![]() ![]() "Military aid to Ukraine gave rise to a particularly difficult debate in Germany, for both historical and economic reasons," noted Éric-André Martin from the Paris-based French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). ![]() When Germany, Europe’s largest economy, offered just 5,000 protective helmets, it was the subject of much scorn across Ukraine, prompting Kyiv’s mayor to publicly ask if the next delivery would be pillows. From weak link to ‘backbone’ of European defenceīack in January 2022, when Ukraine, faced with an imminent invasion, turned to NATO for military help, the US and UK immediately agreed to provide Kyiv with defensive weapons. It was a clear sign of a change in German policy, which was once considered a weak link in the Western response to Russian aggression due to its dependence on cheap Russian energy and its postwar commitment to pacifism. The €8 billion military aid announcement was a marked shift from Germany’s infamous “5,000 protective helmets” offering just weeks before Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. The budget boost, he told ARD, was a response to this year's experience, "which showed that planned amounts were quickly exhausted" by Ukraine’s major military needs. The Ukraine military aid hike from €4 billion to €8 billion would mean Germany’s annual budget allocation would be enough to last Ukraine the entire year, noted Pistorius. In an interview with German broadcaster ARD, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the move sent a “strong signal to Ukraine that we will not leave them in the lurch”. But Kyiv can count on the support of Germany, which is set to double its military aid to Ukraine. The looming 2024 US election campaign is doing nothing to assuage their anxieties. ![]() As the Ukraine war grinds on, and with the Israel -Hamas war grabbing international attention, many Ukrainians fear that their existential struggle against Russia will be overlooked. ![]()
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