The current budget allocation is about as high as the one in the 2024 budget was initially. They just added further spending over the year. Th other part is using Russian money instead. The real reason this is the current state, is that they want to get the budget passed as quickly as possible and the debt brake means that any funding for Ukraine has to be balanced with a cut in social spending. Obviously that is not popular.
Fund now Ukraine or pay tribute to Russia when they invade later.
The fuck Germany?
My two cents as a random German:
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regardless how this actually turns out to affect things in the end, it is again a PR disaster. Seems like we are true masters in this regard. Despite imo supporting Ukraine pretty substantially so far, the vast majority of controversies like these seem to be about our involvement. And at least for this year there is a decent pipeline of new stuff already confirmed, plus as we’ve learned nothing is set in stone forever.
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In principle I don’t really mind the idea that stuff gets financed through these frozen Russian assets instead of directly by us. As long as it’s overall sufficient in providing Ukraine with the weapons they need. What does seem like a huge blunder and pretty bad is to cut funding before this other scheme is in effect or even truly secured. This can (and might already) have negative effects on Ukraine.
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This really unfortunate timing might have at least partially to do with the upcoming state elections in Saxony and Thuringia on September 1st, and Brandenburg on the 28th. In all 3 the right wing Afd and left Bsw, both pro putin/against support for Ukraine, are strong. Whereas particularly Scholz’s SPD is looking weak. So maybe this is only a short term play to gain sympathy point in those regions? If so they’ve learned nothing in all those years watching these extremist parties grow. In any case I’ll at least partially hold judgement until at least the first two elections are done.
The reason for this is the austerity measures taken by the Chancellery and the Ministry of Finance. Finance Minister Christian Lindner conveyed the request in a letter to Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on 5 August.
Ukraine: another victim of austerity 😩
