German defence minister says Germany is ready to provide €3 billion to Ukraine, but no funds yet

The German government has prepared everything necessary to provide Ukraine with additional military assistance worth €3 billion, but discussions are still ongoing. The funds are not yet available because the country's new budget has not been approved.

"Regarding the aid package worth €3 billion, we have prepared everything we need, but we are still in the process of negotiations within the government because there is still the issue of funds that are not yet available because the budget has not been approved. This is just a fiscal problem in the government. We are working on it and I remain optimistic that we will find a solution," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said, as quoted by Ukrinform.

The minister stressed that some of Germany's democratic parties have demonstrated a willingness to take steps in this direction.

He also assured that regardless of which government leads the country after the 23 February elections, German support for Ukraine will remain "reliable, unwavering, committed and energetic".

Earlier, Spiegel reported that there was a dispute within the German government over an additional assistance package for Ukraine worth about €3 billion.

Pistorius subsequently denied the report that Scholz was allegedly blocking an additional €3 billion package of military aid to Ukraine.