Germany pledges $2bn in military aid for Ukraine as Kyiv seeks more funds
Key Takeaways
- Germany pledged over $2 billion in new military aid for Ukraine, including air defense systems and ammunition.
- Ukraine estimates it will need $120 billion in defense funding for 2026, aiming to self-fund half of that amount.
- The aid was announced at a Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Brussels attended by German, US, and Ukrainian defense officials.
- The new support comes despite recent data showing a sharp decline in overall foreign military aid to Ukraine in July and August.
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged allies to convert pledges into concrete military capabilities, emphasizing 'hard power'.
Germany pledged over $2 billion in additional military aid for Ukraine during a Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Brussels, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Kyiv against Russia's ongoing war. German Foreign Minister Boris Pistorius specified that the new package includes air defense systems like Patriot interceptors, radar systems, and precision-guided artillery, alongside two additional IRIS-T systems. This aid arrives as Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal requested $120 billion in defense funding for 2026, proposing Ukraine cover $60 billion from national resources and asking partners to fund the remainder. The meeting highlighted the urgent need for air defense following recent massive Russian strikes, even as data showed a sharp recent decline in overall foreign military aid to Ukraine. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stressed the need for allies to translate commitments into tangible military capabilities, noting that the US administration is considering sending Tomahawk missiles.
