The defense and foreign ministers ask the German government to triple military aid to Ukraine

BERLIN, Oct. 22 (DPA/EP) -

The German Defense and Foreign Ministers, Christine Lambrecht and Annalena Baerbock, have requested an increase in the 2023 General Budgets of the items allocated to military aid to Ukraine to almost three times higher than those currently established.

In a letter addressed to the German Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner, both ministers request that the 697 million euros foreseen so far in the draft budget for 2023 be increased to 2.2 billion euros.

Lambrecht and Baerbock also require Lindner to increase the commitment appropriation to €1 billion, which currently stands at €100 million. This would allow for legally binding commitments to spend in future years.

According to the ministers, the estimates of the 2023 budget project reduce "the room for maneuver to a politically unjustifiable minimum."

"The ability of the German government to act in foreign and security policy and its international reputation in this conflict also depend on the authorization title meeting the requirements," the letter reads.

The text adds that a significant increase is necessary for the German government to be able to maintain its commitments to continued massive support for Ukraine. "Allies and partners expect it too."

The letter goes on to say that the example of Ukraine demonstrates how effectively and quickly the German government can help the improvement initiative when needed.

"In this way, Germany can concretely and visibly assume the responsibility that our international partners expect of us, while protecting its own strategic interests," he adds.