Scholz: Support for Ukraine must not affect other German spending
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stated during a campaign event in Bielefeld that he opposes increasing arms deliveries to Ukraine if it requires a reduced funding for other expenses on the state budget.
Source: European Pravda citing DPA, a German press agency
Quote from Scholz: "I am against taking [funding for] this from pensions, I am against doing this by cutting local budgets and I am against reducing investment in railways and roads… This is why we need supplemental funding."
Details: However, Scholz noted that there is no parliamentary majority to suspend Germany’s strict debt limit, known as the "debt brake", to fund aid to Ukraine or other policies.
Scholz’s three-party coalition government collapsed as they failed to come to an agreement after months of contentious budget 2025 negotiations. Early elections have been scheduled for 23 February.
Background:
- Last week, German magazine Spiegel reported that Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius advocated for providing Ukraine with €3 billion worth of weapons ahead of the elections, but Scholz blocked the proposal.
- "If you do this, you must also explain where the money is coming from," Scholz said on Monday, 13 January.
- Defence Minister Pistorius denied media claims that Scholz is blocking the additional military aid package for Ukraine but acknowledged that a decision has yet to be made.
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