Germany has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine with military aid, even in the face of potential reductions in assistance from the United States. In an interview with Tagesschau on April 27, 2025, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius criticized U.S. proposals suggesting that Kyiv should cede territory to Russia in exchange for peace, stating, "Ukraine could have done that alone, just a year ago, through a surrender." He added that while a lasting ceasefire or peace agreement might involve territorial concessions, they should not align with the latest proposals from the American administration.
Pistorius specifically referenced a controversial peace proposal from the Trump administration, which would have recognized Russia's control over Crimea and acknowledged its occupation of other Ukrainian territories. This plan also included conditions that would bar Ukraine from joining NATO, lift sanctions on Russia, and enhance U.S.-Russia economic cooperation. The German defense minister emphasized that any peace deal involving territorial loss must prioritize security guarantees, saying, "I would not focus on the borders themselves. I would focus on which territories are involved in relation to the provided security guarantees."
Despite the uncertainties regarding U.S. military support, Pistorius assured that Germany would continue its assistance to Ukraine, positioning Berlin as the second-largest military donor to Kyiv after the U.S. He warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to prevail in this conflict, it would pose a significant threat not only to NATO territories but also to neighboring countries like Moldova and Georgia. "If Ukraine falls, if Putin wins this war in the sense that he occupies Ukraine, or even if it is only in large parts, then this is a maximum threat to NATO territory and, incidentally, also to neighboring countries such as Moldova and Georgia," he stated.
In March 2025, the Trump administration briefly paused previously approved military assistance to Ukraine, raising concerns about the future of U.S. support. In contrast, on April 17, Germany announced a new package of military assistance, which included four additional IRIS-T air defense systems, missiles for Patriot batteries, and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition for various weapon systems. Political leaders from Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) and the conservative CDU/CSU are discussing the possibility of sending long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, with Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz expressing openness to authorizing such deliveries, marking a notable shift from the more cautious approach of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
On another front, Germany has emerged as Europe's largest defense spender for the first time since the Cold War, according to a report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on April 28, 2025. The report reveals that Germany's military expenditure reached €77.8 billion ($88.5 billion) last year, surpassing the United Kingdom, which spent an equivalent $81.8 billion. This positions Germany as the fourth-largest military spender globally, following the United States, China, and Russia.
The surge in Germany's military spending can be attributed to a €100 billion off-budget fund established to modernize the national army in response to Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. SIPRI researcher Lorenzo Scarazzato noted that the increase reflects a broader trend across Europe, where military spending has risen significantly, with every European country except Malta boosting their defense budgets. Notably, Romania saw a staggering 43% increase in military spending, while the Netherlands, Sweden, and the Czech Republic reported increases of 35%, 34%, and 32%, respectively.
While Germany's military spending has increased, it still struggles to meet NATO's defense spending target of 2% of GDP. Despite a 28% year-on-year spending jump, Germany only reached 2.1% of GDP in 2024. In contrast, the United States allocated €876.5 billion ($997 billion) to defense, accounting for 66% of all spending by NATO's 32 member countries and 37% of global military spending in 2024. Poland has emerged as a leader in European defense spending, increasing its budget by 31% compared to 2023, reaching €33.4 billion ($38.0 billion) and allocating an estimated 4.07% of its GDP to defense.
The Bundestag has recently passed a constitutional reform aimed at facilitating military spending that exceeds 1% of GDP by exempting it from the rules limiting borrowing, known as the 'debt brake' mechanism. However, the German government has yet to outline a concrete plan for utilizing this newly available debt.
As Germany navigates its evolving role in European defense and its commitment to Ukraine amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics, the implications of its military spending and support for Ukraine will be closely watched by both allies and adversaries alike. The upcoming NATO summit in June is expected to address these issues, as leaders seek to balance national security interests with the need for a cohesive strategy in the face of ongoing threats.
