Agencies
Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alice Weidel has criticised Chancellor Friedrich Merz over Germany’s latest financial and military support for Ukraine, arguing that Berlin is committing additional taxpayer funds abroad while facing financial pressures at home.
Weidel made the remarks after Merz travelled to Kyiv and announced a new package of more than €1.3 billion in assistance for Ukraine. The package includes around €1 billion in military support and €350 million for energy infrastructure, according to reports.
In comments reported on October 6, Weidel claimed that Germany had already “sunk €100 billion” into Ukraine and questioned whether the government had provided sufficient reporting on how previous assistance had been used. She also argued that additional spending should be reconsidered while Germany faces its own domestic financial needs.
“Also der deutsche Bundeskanzler gibt eine Pressekonferenz in Kiew, nachdem er aus dem Zug ausgestiegen ist und dem ukrainischen Präsidenten weitere deutsche Steuermilliarden versprochen hat.” https://t.co/HA4LrCe1PY
— Alice Weidel (@Alice_Weidel) October 6, 2026
Her criticism reflects the AfD’s broader opposition to continued German military assistance to Ukraine. The party has repeatedly called for a change in Berlin’s approach to the war and for negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
However, the €100 billion figure cited by Weidel requires context. Germany’s officially reported bilateral support for Ukraine is substantially lower than that figure when measured as direct assistance since Russia’s full-scale invasion. The German government’s support also includes different categories, including military, humanitarian and financial assistance, as well as support for Ukrainian refugees.
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Merz, meanwhile, has defended continued assistance, arguing that supporting Ukraine is linked to European security. During his latest visit to Kyiv, Germany also signed agreements with Ukrainian partners worth billions of euros covering areas including defence cooperation, weapons production and other industrial projects.
The latest package comes as Ukraine faces increasing pressure on its finances and military resources. Reuters reported that Ukraine expects war-related expenditures of about $155 billion in 2026 and faces a funding gap of approximately $27 billion, highlighting its continued dependence on external support.
The debate has therefore become increasingly prominent inside Germany, with the government maintaining that assistance to Ukraine is necessary for European security, while opposition parties such as the AfD argue that Germany should prioritise domestic spending and pursue a negotiated end to the war.
Weidel has called on Merz to engage with Ukraine, Russia and the United States in negotiations, saying the conflict should be brought to an end through a diplomatic settlement.
The disagreement places Ukraine policy at the centre of Germany’s wider debate over public spending, national security and Berlin’s role in the European response to the war.
