"Our resources are not unlimited": Laschet slows down in Ukraine

For Ukrainian air defense, Germany has nothing more to hide in Armin Laschet's view. "We have delivered everything possible to support Ukraine," says the CDU politician in an interview with Welt TV. The sentence falls in a sensitive week. Laschet heads the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee. He speaks while EU leaders in Brussels discuss winter aid for Kyiv, and a few days after US President Donald Trump demanded the replacement of Volodymyr Zelenskyj. Trump's new peace plan for Ukraine: Germany to pay Laschet: No room for maneuver in air defense When asked where the Bundeswehr or the arms industry could still make Ukrainian air defense winter-proof, Laschet replies briefly: "In my view, there is no room for maneuver." The German government has not left any potential that one could "suddenly obtain somewhere now." Germany is the largest European supporter of Ukraine. For 2026, Berlin planned around 11.5 billion euros in aid according to Reuters. Deep Strikes: Laschet refers to Trump Regarding far-reaching weapons for attacks deep in Russia, Laschet does not settle. He refers to Washington: Trump had "explicitly asked" Selenskyj not to bomb oil and diesel refineries. "I think we must focus on de-escalation right now," says Laschet. It would not help Ukraine if the Americans tightened their course towards Kyiv. Zelenskyj must "keep the US at bay," for example in the Starlink satellite service and intelligence information. What goals Kyiv attacks are, is its calculation: "We cannot give him any advice on that." Laschet has already given the advice to restrain. Trump demands Zelenskyj's replacement "Asked" is a friendly euphemism. Trump had already suggested to Zelenskyj in September that attacks on Russian refineries would cause a global diesel shortage. Last Saturday, he stated in the White House: "I think it is time for Ukraine to get a new president." At the same time, he announced that he would source diesel from Russia, initially more than 300,000 tons. The background is domestic. In early October, diesel in the US cost an average of $6.28 per gallon, a record value. On November 3, Americans will elect a new Congress. Kyiv considers the refineries legitimate military targets. Russia, in turn, has been attacking the Ukrainian energy supply for years. EU Budget: Laschet urges realism When asked how much Germany must contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine, Laschet is generally. There is the tendency to demand "unlimited money for defense and for supporting Ukraine." At the same time, Germany demands drastic cuts in the EU budget in Brussels. This is the line of his own Chancellor. Merz wants to cut the draft for the EU budget 2028 to 2034 by several hundred billion euros. Berlin apparently demands a deficit of 400 billion euros. The Irish presidency has so far proposed 141 billion euros less, as calculated by Germanwatch. Laschet demands "a little more pragmatism, a little more realism" and clear priorities. What the EU summit must decide now The summit on October 15th and 16th is about the protection of Ukrainian infrastructure in winter and Kyiv's financial needs. Laschet's conclusion aims at negotiations. "We must now also do everything diplomatically to end this war," he says. "Because our resources are not unlimited either." How tight the money is shown by the EU credit of over 90 billion euros for 2026 and 2027. According to reports, it only covers about two-thirds of Ukraine's financial needs, and Brussels rejected Kyiv's request for advance payments at the beginning of October for now. There are still 33.7 billion euros available for the rest of this year from the credit, to be disbursed only upon fulfillment of conditions. For 2027, 45 billion euros are planned. Ukraine's EU accession: These conditions placed on Kyiv by Brussels After the CDU debacle in MV: Laschet calls the result "epochal" Your opinion is important to us. Send us your feedback on this article: briefe@berliner-zeitung.de