The war in Ukraine determines the summit of the group of economically strong democracies (G7). Will Chancellor Scholz and the other G7 countries agree on further aid in Elmau?
Long-term support for Ukraine is one of Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) key goals at his first G7 summit as chancellor. Just over a month ago, the group’s finance ministers agreed on additional short-term budget support of 9.5 billion dollars (almost 9 billion euros). Since the beginning of the year, they have mobilized a total of 19.8 billion dollars (18.9 billion euros) in financial aid for Ukraine, the final statement said at the time.
How do the individual members of the G7 group, which meets from Sunday to Tuesday in Elmau, Bavaria, help? In addition to Germany and the USA, Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Canada also belong to the group.
G7
According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, around one billion of the 9.5 billion dollars in additional financial aid from the G7 comes in the form of guarantees or loans. Germany gives grants in the range of one billion. The US had pledged to mobilize $7.5 billion.
Ukraine had asked for aid of around 5 billion euros each for three months. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) had emphasized that he saw no need for another round of fundraising in Elmau.
Deutschland
Since 2014, the year of the annexation of Crimea by Russia, Germany has supported Ukraine with around 1.83 billion euros, according to a government spokesman. Since the beginning of the war on February 24, the Development Ministry has also provided an emergency program currently worth around 185 million euros – for example for disaster control, care for internally displaced persons and for host communities. In addition, Germany has since provided 440 million euros in humanitarian aid. Scholz announced another untied loan of up to 150 million euros during a visit to Kyiv on February 14.
According to its own account, the federal government has delivered, among other things, seven self-propelled howitzers, 500 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, 16 million rounds of small arms ammunition and 100,000 hand grenades. In addition, three multiple rocket launchers, 30 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks and an Iris-T anti-missile system were promised but not yet delivered. In the budget process, the funds for the Defense Ministry’s upgrade initiative were increased to two billion euros for 2022 – primarily to support Ukraine.
USA
The United States has said it has pledged or delivered $6.1 billion worth of weapons and equipment to Ukraine since the war began. According to the Pentagon, this includes heavy weapons such as howitzers and multiple rocket launchers, but also drones, helicopters and armored personnel carriers. Since March, the US Congress has passed two packages approving more than $53 billion in emergency funds related to the war.
In addition to direct military support to Ukraine, these packages also provide funds for many other areas, such as economic aid for Ukraine, humanitarian aid for refugees from the country or to deal with the food crisis caused by the war. Additional billions are to be used, for example, to increase US troops in Europe or to replenish US stockpiles of military equipment after arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Great Britain
The government in London has so far acted primarily as a weapons supplier. Britain has delivered or promised Ukraine, among other things, M270 multiple rocket launchers, thousands of anti-tank weapons, hundreds of short-range missiles, 120 armored vehicles and some Starstreak anti-aircraft systems. There are also ammunition and aids such as night vision devices.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government has also pledged £220m (€256m) in aid. Half of this goes to the UN and the Red Cross. In addition, there are millions of medicines and health goods as well as hundreds of generators. London has also pledged up to 20 ambulances and 13 armored vehicles to help rescue civilians in dangerous situations.
France
A month ago, President Emmanuel Macron announced an increase in his country’s pledges to Ukraine by $300 million to $2 billion. After the war broke out, France had already provided aid worth 100 million euros.
Not included in the totals is military aid, about which France tends to keep a low profile. The Ministry of Defense announced in mid-April that France had delivered military material to Ukraine for 100 million euros. The delivery of Caesar-type howitzers followed later, and Ukraine is to receive a total of 18 of the guns, Macron said recently.
Italy
The government in Rome promised Ukraine primarily humanitarian aid, for example in taking in refugees. Despite domestic criticism, including from parts of the governing parties, the government managed to deliver heavy weapons, which were decided in three decrees.
Italy does not make the details public. Reportedly include Stinger missiles, howitzers and anti-tank missiles. According to the media, the deliveries of the first decree cost up to 150 million euros. Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini later indicated that the other two decrees were of similar scope.
On the very first day of the war, February 24, Italy provided Ukraine with a loan of 110 million euros. In April, another 200 million euros were added, as Finance Minister Daniele Franco said. In addition, Rome provided more than 900 million euros for the reception of refugees in Italy.
You have
The heaviest weapons Ottawa has sent to Ukraine so far are four M-777 artillery pieces. In addition, Justin Trudeau’s government provided Kyiv with thousands of rocket launchers, hand grenades and ammunition, among other things. The equivalent of 200 million euros has already flowed into Ukraine as military aid. In Canada’s budget for 2022, the equivalent of 365 million has been earmarked for support.
Separately from the military financial support, the Ministry of Finance in Ottawa recently announced that it has so far provided a total of 1.37 billion euros in loans from the International Monetary Fund.
This money should, among other things, stabilize the economy of Ukraine. In addition, after the invasion of Russia, the Canadian government imposed sanctions on more than 1,000 people and organizations and significantly increased tariffs on products from Russia.
Japan
The country is providing Ukraine with $200 million (€190 million) in emergency humanitarian assistance in areas such as health, medical care, food and protection of people in Ukraine and neighboring countries through international organizations. In addition, there is 600 million dollars (571 million euros) in financial support in the form of loans.
Japan does not send weapons to Ukraine because the pacifist post-war constitution does not allow it. However, it is a big step for the country that for the first time it has made equipment available to a warring faction, including bulletproof vests, tents, steel helmets, winter uniforms, protective clothing against chemical weapons and commercial drones for reconnaissance – all directly from the stocks of the self-defense forces.
In addition, Japan transports UNHCR relief supplies in its armed forces’ aircraft and provides personnel for the medical care of evacuees. In addition, Japan, which is normally extremely restrictive in granting asylum, accepts evacuees from Ukraine and offers visa extensions to Ukrainian citizens already living in Japan. (dpa/red)
