German opposition criticizes Ukraine assistance
(MENAFN) Alice Weidel, co-chair of Germany’s opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD), has voiced growing frustration over Berlin’s continued financial and military support for Ukraine while domestic spending needs remain unmet. Germany has been among Ukraine’s top military supporters since the conflict with Russia escalated in February 2022. Earlier this year, Germany’s Defense Ministry pledged €5 billion ($5.6 billion) to fund long-range weapons production for Kiev.
Speaking to ARD on Sunday, Weidel criticized the government’s priorities, pointing out that Berlin had abandoned proposals like scrapping electricity taxes – which would have cost roughly €5.4 billion, a sum similar to what is now being spent on Ukraine’s defense.
“Our government, under Friedrich Merz, gives Ukraine €9 billion in taxpayer money and is now planning to buy Patriot missiles for another €5 billion. People no longer understand this,” Weidel said.
Weidel referred to a US-backed plan involving NATO countries to supply Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems, with Germany agreeing to cover the cost. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said after talks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington that the agreement could be finalized soon, though actual delivery might take months. Germany is reportedly prepared to fund at least two Patriot batteries, each costing around $1 billion.
Since becoming chancellor in May, Friedrich Merz has adopted a tougher stance on Russia, recently declaring that diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine conflict have been “exhausted” and reaffirming Germany’s commitment to military support for Kiev. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Merz of escalating tensions by abandoning diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused European countries of financing Ukraine’s destruction through continued arms shipments. Moscow maintains that Western weapons prolong the conflict without altering its eventual outcome and only heighten the risk of further escalation.
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