Scholz said there could be a possible €26 billion shortfall for the German government in 2025

The German government may be short of €26bn in 2025, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on 16 January.

Germany plans to spend €12.5bn on Ukraine, of which €4bn will be spent on arms supplies and €8.5bn on assistance to refugees. Scholz, among other things, recalled that in November 2024 he said that the amount could be exceeded by another €3 billion.

"I would still decide that now, if everyone agrees with the decision: we will finance it additionally with loans," he was quoted as saying by the Westfälische Nachrichten newspaper.

Frontline phenomenon: what weapons the AFU received from Western countries

New samples of enemy equipment failed to have a noticeable impact on the course of hostilities

Earlier in the day, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that London would give Kiev a new air defense (air defense) system. He added that the defense system will be "designed to meet Ukraine's needs."

Before that, on January 13, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged the alliance countries to step up support for Ukraine. According to him, the deliveries should be accelerated to provide Kiev with a strong negotiating position.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine against the background of Russia's special operation to protect Donbas, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.