German defence minister refutes information about blocking military assistance to Ukraine
Pravda Ukraine
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has refuted claims that Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been blocking an additional €3 billion military assistance package for Ukraine.
Source: Pistorius in an interview with German newspaper Tagesspiegel, to be published on 13 January, as reported by DW
Details: Pistorius said there is no blockade, but internal coordination of the new assistance package within the government is still ongoing. The Defence Ministry has prepared proposals, but a final political decision has yet to be made.
Quote: “Pistorius stated that his ministry has prepared a new assistance package and now a political decision must be made regarding its provision to Kyiv.”
Background:
- Earlier, Spiegel had unofficially learned that there was a dispute within the German government over an additional arms package for Ukraine worth about €3 billion. The package was put together by Annalena Baerbock, German Foreign Minister, and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius based on Ukraine’s urgent requests.
- However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposed it, saying that the amount of earmarked aid was sufficient and that Kyiv could buy weapons with funds allocated through a joint G7 loan, and that it would be unfair to make such promises right before the formation of the new German government after the early elections in February. Some Social Democratic Party members share this opinion.
- Baerbock, however, insists that Berlin should provide Ukraine with more military aid than currently planned in the budget. She stated that failure to do so would weaken Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and, consequently, Europe’s security.
- In addition, reports indicate that in the first half of 2025, Germany plans to provide Ukraine with significant military aid packages, including Leopard tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles and other equipment.
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