Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected accusations from the Greens that he is blocking additional aid for Ukraine, insisting that support will not come at the cost of social benefits. Tensions have risen over a proposed €3 billion aid package, with Green politician Anton Hofreiter claiming Scholz is impeding its approval. Scholz plans to propose €12 billion in aid for Ukraine in the 2025 budget, while emphasizing that funding should not come from social programs.
Scholz Responds to Greens’ Accusations on Ukraine Aid
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has firmly dismissed the claims from the Greens that he is obstructing additional support for Ukraine. He emphasized that any aid would not come at the expense of social benefits, a point that the Greens’ leadership interprets as mere election campaign rhetoric.
Rising Tensions Over Aid Packages
The ongoing debate regarding further assistance for Ukraine has intensified, with the federal government, comprised of the Greens and the SPD, clashing over a proposed aid package valued at approximately three billion euros. Green politician Anton Hofreiter has once again accused Scholz of hindering the approval of this crucial aid.
“It has not been communicated to the Finance Ministry; it has not reached the Budget Committee,” Hofreiter stated in an interview with Deutschlandfunk. “Our internal information suggests the Chancellor is blocking this.” He labeled Scholz’s actions as “shameful,” underscoring the urgent need for enhanced air defense capabilities in Ukraine to protect civilians and infrastructure.
Hofreiter dismissed Scholz’s justification that social benefits would need to be cut to secure the additional aid, calling it a mere “excuse.” He expressed confidence that the funding could be sourced without impacting social programs, arguing, “This is simply a false argumentation from the Chancellor and a clumsy excuse to distract from it.” He believes it is feasible to finalize the aid package ahead of the federal elections.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Foreign and Defense Ministries are preparing a list of military equipment to be sent to Kyiv.
In response to Hofreiter’s allegations, Scholz reiterated his stance during an SPD campaign event in Bielefeld, revealing plans for twelve billion euros in aid for Ukraine in the 2025 budget draft. “I had suggested expanding that as well. But if you do that, you must specify where the funding will come from,” he stated.
Scholz noted that there was no coalition majority for his proposal to allocate an additional three billion euros in military aid from a special fund outside the federal budget, attributing the current budgetary challenges to the breakdown of the traffic light coalition and the inability to pass a budget for 2025.
He made it clear that he opposes financing this additional support through cuts to social programs, stating, “I am against taking it from pensions or reducing funds for municipalities. I am against less investment in infrastructure.” Scholz highlighted that Germany already provides the most aid to Ukraine in Europe.
The proposed military support primarily aims to bolster Ukraine’s air defense, encompassing Iris-T air defense systems, ammunition, and other essential equipment, including drones.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) are both in favor of the additional aid deliveries, with Baerbock cautioning against a significant reduction in Germany’s financial support for arms shipments to Ukraine. Conversely, Pistorius has clarified that there is no blockade from the Chancellor’s office regarding this matter, stating, “We have prepared a new aid package for Ukraine in the Defense Ministry, and it now needs a political decision.” He anticipates a resolution once all inquiries are addressed.
While Green co-leader Felix Banaszak supports the demand for expedited military aid, he insists that extraordinary funding is required in the federal budget to facilitate this. “My experience from the last few years in the Budget Committee has shown that even the democratic opposition has always been willing to support Ukraine with what is necessary,” he affirmed.
In light of Scholz’s approach, Banaszak raised concerns, questioning whether the Chancellor intends to use the plight of the Ukrainian people for internal political gains during the election season, advising him against this path.
The Greens have increasingly distanced themselves from Scholz’s stance on Ukraine as the federal election campaign progresses, particularly regarding the delivery of Taurus missiles. Hofreiter has consistently called for greater military assistance to Ukraine since the onset of the conflict.