We Will Not Surrender: Germany’s Defense Ministry on Arming Ukraine

The German Ministry of Defense has confirmed plans to double military assistance to Ukraine in 2024. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Berlin intends to increase military aid to Ukraine from €4 billion to €8 billion next year. The information was reported by kommersant.ru.

“This is a strong signal to Ukraine, showing that we will not surrender,” Pistorius told the ARD television channel. He explained the decision by referencing the experience of 2023, “which showed that the planned funds were quickly exhausted.”

The coalition government had previously agreed to double the initial amount of assistance for 2024. The decision needs to be confirmed by a parliamentary vote. Plans to double the assistance had earlier been reported by both German and American media.

Since the onset of the conflict with Russia, Germany has provided €22 billion in military, humanitarian, and financial support to Ukraine. Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated in October that London has ceded the status of Ukraine’s largest European donor to Berlin.