Germany’s Reduced Military Aid to Ukraine
Germany plans to cut its military aid to Ukraine next year, reducing it from about €8 billion to €4 billion. Despite this, new US aid packages are now arriving in Ukraine.
What Military Aid Is Ukraine Receiving?
In April, President Joe Biden approved nearly $61 billion in military support for Ukraine. This aid includes air defense interceptors, artillery, and precision-guided missiles. The US Department of Defense also plans to send extra munitions for Patriot air defense systems, more Stinger missiles, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars).
Germany, the second-largest donor, has introduced a draft budget that halves next year’s contributions. However, Ukraine’s funding is considered “secure for the foreseeable future” due to a G7 scheme to raise $50 billion from frozen Russian assets. In February 2024, the EU agreed on an additional €50 billion aid package for Ukraine.
How Much Military Aid Has Ukraine Received So Far?
From February 2022 to February 2024, the US delivered or committed weapons and equipment worth $46.2 billion to Ukraine. Germany provided $10.7 billion, the UK $5.7 billion, Denmark $5.2 billion, and the Netherlands $4.1 billion.
What Arms Shortages Is Ukraine Facing?
In April, President Volodymyr Zelensky noted a shortage of weapons for air defense, stating the need for more Patriots or similar systems. The Ukrainian armed forces were limited to firing 2,000 shells a day, while Russian forces fired up to 10,000. This discrepancy, combined with Russia’s ability to produce nearly three million shells annually, has impacted Ukraine’s territorial control, particularly in the east.
What Weapons Have Western Countries Provided?
Anti-Tank Weapons
Western nations began supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons to counter Russian armored units. The US and UK provided thousands of Javelin and Nlaw missiles, crucial for defending Kyiv.
Air Defense Systems
To combat Russian air attacks, Western countries sent various air defense systems, including the UK’s Starstreak and the US’s Patriot missiles.
The Patriot Missiles are pretty expensive to operate as one missile costs about $3m.
The US and Norway also provided the Nasams (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System), while Germany contributed the Iris-T.
Artillery and Missiles
As the conflict shifted to the east, artillery and missiles became crucial.
Australia, Canada, and the US sent M777 howitzers and ammunition. The US and UK also provided missile systems like Himars and M270 MLRS. Ukraine received long-range missiles such as Scalp from France, Storm Shadow from the UK, and ATACMS from the US.
In July 2023, the US revealed it had sent cluster bombs to Ukraine to help drive Russian troops from their defensive positions. These bombs, often delivered in artillery shells, release numerous small explosives and are banned by over 100 countries due to the danger they pose to civilians.
Tanks
In early 2023, Western nations began sending tanks to Ukraine, including the UK’s Challenger 2, 31 Abrams tanks from the US, and German-made Leopard 2 tanks. Despite this, these additions did not lead to major breakthroughs.
Drones
Drones have played a significant role in the war for surveillance and attacks. Turkey provided Bayraktar TB2 drones, the US sent Switchblade kamikaze drones, and various countries contributed commercial drones.
In February 2024, the UK joined a coalition to supply Ukraine with observation drones.
Fighter Jets
Ukraine has repeatedly requested fighter jets. In May 2023, President Biden agreed to let other nations provide US-made F-16s, with Denmark and the Netherlands offering planes. Ukrainian pilots are training in 11 Western countries.