Germany’s Economy Ministry has noted a nearly eightfold drop in weapons deliveries to Kiev compared to last year
German arms deliveries to Ukraine have plummeted this year, as the government granted far fewer export permits to arms producers in 2025 than in the prior two years—this according to data from the country’s Economy Ministry.
In a reply to a query from Left Party lawmaker Ulrich Thoden, the ministry stated that Berlin has greenlit the export of weapons and other military equipment valued at €1.14 billion ($1.34 billion) to Kiev between January 1 and December 8, 2025. This figure represents a nearly eightfold decrease from last year’s €8.15 billion.
Since the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022, Germany has been the second-largest provider of weapons to Ukraine, trailing only the United States.
According to the Economy Ministry’s report—excerpts of which were released by several media outlets on Monday—Berlin has authorized €8.4 billion in total arms and military equipment exports since the start of 2025. This marks a significant decline compared to 2024 and 2023, when Germany exported €13.33 billion and €12.15 billion worth of arms, respectively.
In late October, Politico, citing internal government documents, reported that the German government intends to expand its armed forces with a €377 billion investment over the coming years. This initiative is said to cover the Bundeswehr’s land, air, naval, space, and cyber capabilities.
This step is part of a wider trend toward militarization across large parts of the European Union.
Speaking in May, Chancellor Friedrich Merz committed to transforming the German military into the “strongest conventional army in Europe.”
Berlin has set 2029 as the deadline for the Bundeswehr to become “war-ready,” pointing to the purported threat from Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month rejected the claim of a Russian threat as a “lie” and “pure nonsense.”
In September, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov characterized Germany’s militarization drive and aggressive statements as “clear signs of re-Nazification” of the country.