Scholz: Germany’s support for Ukraine driven by historical responsibility

“Given our responsibility to our own history, there is only one place for Germany in this situation: on the side of Ukraine,” said the German chancellor.

“In 2024, we cannot celebrate this on July 20 without thinking about the brave citizens of Ukraine who resisted the criminal Russian war of aggression for more than two years.”

During the speech, Scholz also noted that the war is currently ongoing “with which the Russian rulers pursue the declared goal of conquering Ukraine and destroying it as a sovereign country – 79 years after the end of World War II and 79 years after the entry into force of the United Nations Charter.”

Germany’s military aid to Ukraine

Germany planned to increase its military aid to Ukraine by €3.8 billion in 2024, Reuters reported on May 21.

Germany delivered a new military aid package to Ukraine, including 10 Leopard 1A5 tanks, a Bergepanzer 2 ARV recovery vehicle, 16 Mercedes-Benz Zetros trucks, and ammunition on May 24.

The third Patriot air defense system, IRIS-T systems, Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, missiles, and ammunition will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks and months, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on June 11.

The Foreign Ministry specified that the new aid package would be worth €500 million (almost $547 million).

Germany transferred almost 25% of its Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on June 13.

Germany sent additional military aid to Ukraine without announcements, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, HIMARS systems, and IRIS-T air defense systems in late June and early July.

Reuters reported on July 17 that Germany wants to cut military aid to Ukraine from €8 billion ($8.7 billion) to €4 billion ($4.4 billion) in 2025.

The German government plans to approve the 2025 budget after months of debate, hoping that the economic recovery will help it close the €17 billion ($18.5 billion) gap between projected expenditures and revenues.