Since the start of the war with Iran, fears have grown in Ukraine that it could be left to fend for itself in its defense against Russia. US President Donald Trump has pushed for a quick peace deal between Russia and Ukraine and sharply cut US aid, increasing the role of Germany and other European countries. Viktor Orbán’s election defeat in Hungary has reduced a key source of pushback in Europe, and at German‑Ukrainian government talks in Berlin the German government sought to reassure Kyiv that it can continue to count on support.
Germany is by far the second‑largest bilateral donor to Ukraine after the US, providing nearly €100 billion in support since the start of the war (as of early 2026). That assistance spans military, financial, technical and humanitarian aid, and includes hosting more than one million Ukrainian refugees.
At the meeting in Berlin, Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to press for the swift release of a promised €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine. Hungary had previously blocked the disbursement; with the new Hungarian government a mid‑May release appeared possible according to sources in the German delegation.
Military aid
German government figures put total military aid provided or earmarked for Ukraine at about €55 billion (as of December 31, 2025). This includes transfers from Bundeswehr stocks and state‑financed industry deliveries, covering air defense, artillery, combat vehicles including tanks, small arms and medical supplies. Germany has also trained more than 24,000 Ukrainian soldiers on German soil.
The focus of assistance has shifted as the war evolved. Combat tanks — supplied after much hesitation — are less decisive than earlier expected; combat drones now dominate the battlefield. Germany supplies combat drones to Ukraine, including ones produced by German companies operating in Ukraine. Merz said the long‑running debate over sending Taurus cruise missiles is “no longer relevant,” noting Ukraine can now produce its own long‑range weapons and is “better armed today than ever before.” He emphasized the main remaining issue is funding, an area where Germany is prepared to help.
Germany and Ukraine plan closer cooperation on drone production; several jointly manufactured drones were shown at the Chancellery. “No army in Europe has been as battle‑tested in recent decades as Ukraine’s,” Merz said, praising Ukrainian societal resilience and defense‑industry innovation.
Civilian and humanitarian aid
Germany’s bilateral civilian aid (in addition to EU channels) totals about €39 billion. A major focus is energy, which Russia has targeted increasingly. Since the war began, Berlin has provided over €1.2 billion for Ukraine’s energy sector — the second‑largest donor after the US — funding repairs and emergency work on damaged facilities and cooperating with Ukrainian partners on rebuilding, energy efficiency and renewable energy expansion.
Humanitarian assistance is channeled with international and non‑governmental organizations to deliver medical care, food, clean water and emergency aid, especially for communities near the front lines.
Aid for refugees
More than one million Ukrainian refugees, mainly women and children, have sought refuge in Germany. The federal government supports states and municipalities with housing and care via direct payments or by making federal buildings available as shelters. Refugees receive German language courses, training, integration programs and help finding work; as of February 2026 roughly half of working‑age Ukrainian refugees were employed, according to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB).
Berlin also addressed the influx of young Ukrainian men. Since September, Ukrainian men under age 25 are permitted to leave the country; thousands have registered as refugees in Germany, receiving shelter and the right to seek work. Chancellor Merz urged Ukrainian authorities to do more to prevent departures or bring this group back. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Ukrainian Social Security Minister Denys Ulyutin opened an information center in Berlin — the “Unity Hub” — to assist Ukrainians who wish to return home with housing and employment support.
Reconstruction and reforms
Germany is already planning Ukraine’s reconstruction with Ukrainian authorities and partners in the EU and G7, aiming to modernize the state and economy and to advance integration into the EU. Merz said Germany supports EU integration even if full implementation cannot happen quickly; Ukraine had proposed January 1, 2027, as a target date, which Berlin regards as unlikely given skepticism among some member states. The new Hungarian government opposes full EU membership for Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin rejected the idea of an EU or NATO “light,” insisting Ukraine needs a strong, fully integrated army.
Several international reconstruction conferences have already taken place, including one in Germany in 2024. Poland will host the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Gdańsk at the end of June 2026.
Resistance from the right and left
Support for Ukraine remains broad among most German parties, but there is opposition on the far right and far left. The coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD stipulates that Ukrainian refugees who entered Germany after April 1, 2025, will receive lower benefits than earlier arrivals, responding to criticism that the EU’s “Mass Influx Directive” gave Ukrainians higher immediate benefits than other asylum seekers.
Both the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the socialist Left Party criticize the war and Germany’s support for Ukraine for different reasons. The Left Party positions itself as the only truly pacifist party. The AfD seeks closer ties with Russia and argues Germany lacks funds for Ukrainian support, calling for cheap Russian energy — a message that may resonate amid high fuel prices caused by the wider regional conflict. Officials worry the AfD could exploit these sentiments in state elections in Mecklenburg‑Western Pomerania and Saxony‑Anhalt in September.
This article has been translated from German