Scholz calls on EU countries to increase aid to Ukraine, approaching peace
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (photo: Getty Images)
In 2024, Germany will spend more than 7 billion euros ($7.6 billion) to help Ukraine. European allies should step up their support for Kyiv, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz states.
According to the chancellor, if the message to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is that the West will stand together in support of Ukraine and will not back down, "then peace will be possible sooner than we think today."
In particular, he added that this year Germany will spend more than 7 billion euros to help Ukraine. According to him, it is unacceptable that Berlin currently provides Kyiv with more than half of the total military aid of all European countries.
Germany's assistance
Germany is one of Ukraine's main allies in countering Russian aggression. Berlin provides not only political and financial support but also military support. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Germany has provided several types of artillery, Leopard tanks of old and new modifications, IRIS-T and Patriot air defense systems, ammunition, vehicles, drones, and other types of weapons.
According to the Inspector General of the German Armed Forces, Carsten Breuer, it is expected that in 2024, Berlin will also provide Ukraine with about 200,000 shells.
Meanwhile, Kyiv has requested long-range Taurus missiles from Germany, which are capable of destroying targets at a distance of up to 500 kilometers. However, the Chancellor opposed this idea. Nevertheless, Taurus Systems GmbH, for its part, is ready to quickly replenish Germany's long-range missile stockpile if it is supplied to Ukraine.
