Germany's military support for Ukraine is set to shrink significantly due to strict budgetary constraints imposed by the federal government. The latest budget reveals that no new funds are available for additional aid, driven by austerity measures from the Chancellor's office and the Finance Ministry. Although previously approved supplies will still be delivered, new requests from the Defense Ministry are unlikely to be approved following directives from Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Finance Minister Christian Lindner communicated this decision in an August 5 letter to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, as reported by sources within the government.

The impact of this funding freeze is already being felt. Planned military aid for Ukraine could be halved next year, with further reductions potentially slashing support to less than a tenth of current levels by 2027.

Despite this, the Finance Ministry suggests that future aid might be financed through frozen Russian central bank assets. After the invasion of Ukraine, Western allies seized around $300 billion in Russian assets, and the G-7 countries proposed using these funds to provide a $50 billion loan to Ukraine. However, the timeline for accessing these funds is unclear, with negotiations ongoing and legal challenges unresolved.

The uncertainty does little to mitigate the immediate effects of the funding freeze. A source revealed that Germany recently failed to finance an IRIS-T air defense system for Ukraine, despite urgent need following a Russian missile attack on a Kyiv children's hospital. The funds were not authorized, against Defense Minister Pistorius's wishes.

This freeze has sparked tension within the German government. While the Chancellor's office seeks to withhold funds, the Defense, Foreign, and Economic Ministries are reportedly opposed. Opinions vary on the Finance Ministry's role, with some suggesting it aligns with the Chancellor, while others argue it is simply highlighting the lack of funds for new orders.

The freeze on new military support for Ukraine is explicitly outlined in Lindner's letter to Pistorius and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, stating that "new measures" can only proceed if funding is secured in future budgets. With the budget for Ukraine aid already allocated for this year, and limits for 2025 overcommitted, new commitments are nearly impossible.

Currently, deliveries to Ukraine are only continuing due to existing contracts, but these may need to be reduced. Long-term military support from Germany is increasingly at risk, raising concerns about the sustainability of Ukraine's defense strategy.

Adding to the challenges, Ukraine's military situation is deteriorating, with recent reports indicating that it is facing significant setbacks on the battlefield. We won't mention the pipeline at this moment again.... Soon Germany is looking for politicians to stick their heads up Vladimir Putin's ass and beg for cheap gas. The war was lost from the first minute.