Concerns are mounting within German political circles regarding the adequacy of the current level of military aid being provided to Ukraine, particularly in light of recent Russian actions. Roderich Kiesewetter, a prominent foreign policy spokesperson for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has sharply criticized the government’s approach, citing a pattern of delayed and insufficient support, specifically referencing the yet-undelivered Taurus cruise missiles. He suggested the government’s commitment to continuity has translated into a series of shortcomings.
Kiesewetter went further, expressing his belief that Russia views the “inconsequential expressions of concern and purely verbal condemnations” from Western nations with derision. He described the failure to significantly expand military assistance to Kyiv as a “strategic error” emphasizing the possibility of increased support without violating Germany’s debt brake. He advocated for the release of funds to bolster Ukraine’s arms production.
Echoing this sentiment, Sebastian Schäfer, a Green Party politician, also called for a substantial increase in the corresponding budget allocation, currently set at nine billion euros annually. He highlighted that the recent constitutional amendment provides greater flexibility, making more expansive aid “urgently necessary.
Schäfer argued that significant expansion does not necessarily require new weapons purchases. He pointed out untapped capacity within Ukraine’s armament industry, attributing the limitations to a lack of funding. He expressed skepticism about the tangible impact of recently pledged support, noting its absence within the federal budget, “where policy becomes reality”.