Germany defies Trump and offers billions in weapons to Ukraine

The German government announced it is seeking to provide additional arms shipments to Ukraine this year, amounting to billions of dollars, in a move that defies the US government’s approach.

A spokesman for German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin explained that these shipments include the IRIS-T air defense system, guided missiles, surveillance radars, drones, combat vehicles, and small arms.

He also emphasized that support for Ukraine should also be considered in the coming years.

According to sources in the German parliament, the budget committee will decide this week on a multibillion-euro increase in German aid to Ukraine, as the sources said the vote is scheduled for Friday.

The Federal Council (the Federal Council of States) is expected to vote on approving the massive funding package for defense and infrastructure, after the German Bundestag had already approved it on Tuesday evening.

This package includes easing the debt brake mechanism to finance defense spending.

This aid includes, on the one hand, an additional three billion euros for Ukraine for 2025.

However, due to the recovery of some funds, particularly from an EU fund, the amount requested in the budget committee has decreased to around €2.5 billion, according to a Finance Ministry document.

In addition, the plan includes exceptional financial commitments for the period between 2026 and 2029 amounting to €8.3 billion.

According to German budget laws, any expenditure exceeding €100 million, whether additional or unscheduled, must be approved by the Bundestag’s budget committee.

The aid package for Ukraine and how it will be financed were the subject of lengthy debates ahead of the early parliamentary elections held on February 23.