Scholz intends to double German military aid to Ukraine next year, reports say

It is reported that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will increase spending on military aid to Ukraine. Photo: Odd Andersen/AFP

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition has reportedly agreed in principle to double military aid to Ukraine next year to €8 billion (£7 billion).

If approved by parliament , where Mr. Scholz's party will be held. The source said the increase would push Germany's defense spending to 2.1 percent of its gross domestic product target, more than the 2 percent pledged by all NATO members.

Lawmakers from Scholz's Social Democrats, Free Democrats and the Green Party agreed to increase negotiations on the proposed 2024 federal budget ahead of a formal meeting of the budget committee of the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, on Thursday, November 16. A source told Reuters.

Bloomberg News first reported the news on Saturday, citing people familiar with the situation. A spokesman for the German Defense Ministry said the Bundestag committee had not yet completed negotiations and declined to comment further.

The German newspaper Bild am Sonntag also reported that the committee must approve an additional 4 billion euros.

“The right thing to do”

“Doubling military spending is both right and important,” the publication quotes member of parliament Andreas Schwarz as saying. which is responsible for the SPD's military budget.

< p>“With this step we will reinforce our promise to Ukraine with the necessary funds. The fact that we will also be able to fulfill our obligations to NATO is a great success… for the coalition,” he said.

EU plan to spend up to 20 billion euros on military aid to Ukraine meets resistance from countries -participants, diplomats said this week.

Germany is already the largest sponsor of Ukraine in Europe and second after the United States in the world.

Berlin has sent even more funds According to the Kiel Institute of World Economics, military assistance to Ukraine will amount to more than 17 billion euros. These include the Leopard-2 main battle tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, Iris-T and Patriot anti-missile systems, Gepard anti-aircraft guns and multiple launch rocket systems