Brantner Urges Bundestag to Approve Ukraine Aid Package

In light of the recent suspension of U.S. aid to Ukraine, the leader of the Green Party, Franziska Brantner, is calling on the Bundestag to expedite the approval of a previously planned aid package for the war-torn nation. She emphasized the urgency of releasing three billion euros in support that has been in the pipeline for some time.

Brantner stated that there is no longer any justification for delaying the submission of this proposal to the Bundestag, as a resolution has already been passed indicating support for Ukraine. She highlighted that there is a clear majority in the Bundestag favoring this initiative, urging the Finance Minister to prioritize the matter. Her comments were made during an interview on RTL and ntv.

The Green Party is increasingly concerned about the implications of the U.S. halting military assistance to Ukraine following a controversial meeting between former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This development is expected to have significant consequences for Ukraine's ongoing defense against Russian aggression.

In addition to Brantner's appeal, Green parliamentary leader Katharina Dröge reiterated the party's demand for a reform of the debt brake, which would allow for sustainable financing of investments in security and economic growth, rather than relying solely on special funds. Dröge criticized the approach of Union faction leader Friedrich Merz, who has suggested creating a one-time special fund, arguing that such a strategy could lead to the need for constitutional changes in the future.

Dröge asserted that the Green Party's proposal for reform is not significantly more complex than Merz's plan and would provide long-term financial planning security. Both the reform of the debt brake and the establishment of any special fund would require a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag, necessitating cooperation from the Green Party.

Despite their readiness to engage, Dröge expressed disappointment over the lack of initiative from the Union to discuss these proposals, noting that they had reached out for dialogue the previous week.

The backdrop for these discussions is the recent decision by the Trump administration to suspend military aid to Ukraine shortly after Zelenskyy's visit to the White House, a move that many observers believe could drastically affect Ukraine's military capabilities.