The German federal government is allocating an additional €200 million in winter aid for Ukraine. The funds are intended to provide the population with electricity, heat, water and other essential services.
This is stated in a joint statement by the Federal Foreign Office and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The German government stressed that, ahead of winter, Ukraine needs additional support to meet the population’s basic needs and to keep electricity and water supply systems operating reliably. The Bundestag’s Budget Committee has enabled these funds to be released.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that Russia is deliberately attacking Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, seeking to use the winter cold to put pressure on the population.
“This calculation will fail, because Putin continues to underestimate the resilience of Ukraine and its partners,” he stressed.
According to Wadephul, the German Foreign Office is expanding humanitarian assistance. This includes support for families in hardship, ensuring access to heat and drinking water, and help in maintaining medical services.
Germany’s Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Alabali-Radovan, said that Russia is trying to make Ukraine unliveable, but must not be allowed to achieve this goal.
She noted that German assistance should provide Ukrainians with heat and electricity so they can continue living in their country. The minister also stressed the importance of ending the war and described an energy ceasefire as the first step towards that.
As the federal government clarified, funds from the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development will be directed towards ensuring electricity, heat and water supply. In particular, assistance has been earmarked for schools and nurseries, agriculture, and the civil protection sector.
Germany’s Foreign Office will provide humanitarian support primarily to residents of frontline areas, internally displaced people, and Ukrainian refugees in neighbouring countries, including Moldova.
In addition, Germany will help Ukrainian cities prepare for winter. Particular attention will be paid to water supply, sanitation and healthcare.