Germany Adds €11.5bn Ukraine Aid in Surprise Budget Move

Berlin quietly boosts weapons funding to €79bn total, adding money for artillery, drones, and new Patriot systems.

You may also like

Lars Klingbeil

© Raimond Spekking

Berlin quietly boosts weapons funding to €79bn total, adding money for artillery, drones, and new Patriot systems.

The German government has confirmed an additional €11.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine, bringing Germany’s total support for the country since the outbreak of the war to €79 billion, including €36 billion for civilian purposes and €43 billion for military assistance.

The increase was unexpected and added to the draft 2026 budget at the last minute. The Finance Ministry, led by Lars Klingbeil (SPD), submitted the updated figures for the final deliberations of the Bundestag Budget Committee. 

The additional funds are earmarked for artillery, drones, armored vehicles, and the replacement of two Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems. Members of the governing SPD and CDU/CSU parliamentary groups emphasized that the increase was necessary to meet Ukraine’s defence needs. The Budget Committee will hold its final discussions on Thursday.

Germany continues to be Ukraine’s largest military supporter in Europe. Finance Minister Klingbeil has not yet disclosed changes to other major budget items, including the Climate and Transformation Fund and the €500 billion special budget for infrastructure and climate neutrality. According to the Finance Ministry, these documents will be sent to parliamentarians separately and at short notice.

Although Germany has provided substantial support to Ukraine, reports indicate tensions are rising as some individuals appear to be conscripted into military service, with videos circulating on social media showing men taken from public spaces.

Leave a Reply

Our community starts with you

Subscribe to any plan available in our store to comment, connect and be part of the conversation!