Germany ranks as Ukraine’s second-largest military aid provider, following the U.S. However, as U.S. support pauses, European nations are trying to compensate. Despite a NATO agreement allowing European nations to access U.S. weapon stockpiles, military aid to Ukraine saw a significant reduction over the summer.
Germany’s proposed budget anticipates a total expenditure of approximately €524.5 billion in 2026, which is €4 billion higher than initially expected. The coalition’s budget committee has approved over €180 billion in debt, facilitated by a historic reform of spending rules this year, primarily exempting defense and Ukraine aid from Germany’s constitutional “debt brake.” The Bundestag still needs to approve the draft budget.
As Russia’s invasion continues, Ukraine’s financial resources are dwindling. Meanwhile, European military aid to Kyiv fell by 57 percent this summer compared to the year’s start, according to a report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. This drop aligns with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s halt on new aid packages to Ukraine earlier this year.
The European Commission aims to leverage sanctioned Russian funds to offer a €140 billion loan to Ukraine, but Belgian objections are stalling the plan. European leaders plan to find a consensus to release the funds by a summit in December at the latest.
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