The results of the phone calls between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump allow first step towards ceasefire. This was stated by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz upon his arrival at the EU summit.
"We now have a first step which seems possible in light of the results of the talks between the Russian and US presidents. But it must become a reality and must end with a ceasefire, which must then be actually observed," he said.
Amendments to the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany on the easing of the debt brake (the rule prohibiting spending more money from the budget than is received) will allow for an increase in military aid to Ukraine, Scholz also said.
“When decisions are made, we will give a further boost to increasing our military aid to Ukraine. In total, this will amount to 7 billion euros - 4 billion of which have already been secured and another 3 billion will be added,“ he said. Thus, according to him, Germany will continue to provide military aid to Kiev more than any other country in Europe.
The Bundesrat (federal state chamber) will vote on Friday on amendments to the basic law that will ease the debt brake to finance rising defense and infrastructure spending. They stipulate that military spending above 1% of GDP, as planned, will not be subject to debt limits. In addition, a special fund for infrastructure development of €500 billion will be created.
The Bundestag's budget committee is expected to approve 3 billion euros in military aid to Kiev on Friday. Another 4 billion euros are included in the 2025 budget.