Sahra Wagenknecht does not want to spend any more money on weapons delivered to Ukraine. The Left and the CDU, on the other hand, criticize the halt to aid to Ukraine.
BSW chairwoman Sahra Wagenknecht is calling for funds for military equipment to be cut from the 2025 federal budget. “These funds should be completely cut, at the latest in light of the new revelations about the attacks on Nord Stream,” said Sahra Wagenknecht, namesake of the Alliance party, to the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post” (Monday). “Instead of continuing to ask German taxpayers – including via the EU – to pay for the financing of the Ukrainian state budget and arms deliveries, it would be time to talk about compensation.”
She described the federal government’s draft budget as “extremely dubious” in view of the financing gap of twelve billion euros. “To simply leave a budget gap of twelve billion euros and to comment on it with ‘that’s just the way it is’ like Economics Minister Habeck is an impertinence towards taxpayers. Dubious, incompetent, divided – that is the traffic light coalition,” emphasised Wagenknecht.
The possible cuts in aid to Ukraine have led to sharp criticism of the German government from the opposition. “The so-called budget agreement is deeply dubious, a disregard for the Bundestag and shows everyone that the traffic light government is politically finished,” said Dietmar Bartsch, a defense politician for the Left Party, to Der Spiegel. “Deliberately calling for a reduction in funding for Ukraine before three East German state elections is irresponsible.” “We need a clear shift in emphasis in German politics towards more diplomacy, not towards heavier weapons and faster deliveries,” said Bartsch.
CDU European politician Christoph Ploß told the magazine: “It is a serious mistake that the traffic light coalition is letting Ukraine down.” Support for Ukraine is also about Germany defending Western values. “If the federal government now acts hesitantly and opportunistically, not only we, but also our children and grandchildren will have to pay dearly. The budget freeze must be reversed,” said Ploß.
