The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine determines the summit of the Group of Economically Strong Democracies (G7).
Long-term support for Ukraine is one of the central goals of Olaf Scholz (SPD) at his first G7 summit as chancellor.
Just over a month ago, finance ministers from the Group of Economically Strong Democracies agreed to provide additional short-term budget support of $9.5 billion (just under 9 billion euros). Since the beginning of the year, this would have mobilized a total of $19.8 billion (€18.9 billion) in financial assistance for Ukraine, the final statement said at the time.
Arms, loans, grants
How will individual members of the G7 group meeting Sunday through Tuesday in Elmau, Bavaria, help? In addition to Germany and the U.S., the group also includes the U.K., France, Italy, Japan and Canada.
G7
Of the $9.5 billion in additional financial assistance from the G7, about one billion comes in the form of guarantees or loans, according to a presentation from the Federal Ministry of Finance. Germany gives grants in the order of one billion. The USA would have agreed to mobilize 7.5 billion dollars.
Ukraine had asked for aid of about 5 billion euros each for three months. Kiev needs the money to pay for things like pensions and the salaries of state employees. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) had stressed that he saw no need for another round of fundraising in Elmau.
Germany
Since 2014, the year of Russia's annexation of Crimea, Germany has provided Ukraine with about 1.83 billion euros in assistance, according to a government spokesman. Since the beginning of the war on 24. February, the Development Ministry is also making available an emergency program of currently around 185 million euros – for example, for disaster protection, care for internally displaced persons and for host communities. In addition, Germany has since allocated 440 million euros for humanitarian aid. Scholz announced during a visit to Kiev on 14. February a further untied loan of up to 150 million euros to.
The federal government says it has purchased, among other things, seven self-propelled howitzers, 500 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, 16 million rounds of small arms ammunition and 100.000 hand grenades delivered. In addition, three multiple rocket launchers, 30 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks and an Iris-T missile defense system have been pledged but not yet delivered. In the budget process, the funds for the Ministry of Defense's upgrade initiative were increased to two billion euros for 2022 – primarily to support Ukraine will benefit.
USA
The U.S. says it has pledged or delivered $6.1 billion (5.8 billion euros) worth of weapons and equipment to Ukraine since the war began. According to the Pentagon, these include heavy weapons such as howitzers and multiple rocket launchers, but also drones, helicopters or armored personnel carriers. The U.S. Congress has approved two packages since March, authorizing more than $53 billion in emergency funds related to the war.
In addition to direct military assistance to Ukraine, these packages also include funding for many other areas, such as economic assistance to Ukraine, humanitarian aid for refugees from the country, or to address the food crisis triggered by the war. Other billions of euros are to be used, for example, to increase U.S. troops in Europe or to replenish U.S. stockpiles with military equipment following arms deliveries to Ukraine.
United Kingdom
The government in London has so far acted mainly as a weapons supplier. For example, the UK has supplied or committed to Ukraine multiple M270 missile launchers, thousands of anti-tank weapons, hundreds of short-range missiles, 120 armored vehicles and some Starstreak anti-aircraft systems, among others. In addition, ammunition as well as aids such as night vision devices.
In addition, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has promised aid payments of 220 million pounds (256 million euros). Half of that goes to the UN and the Red Cross. In addition, there are millions of medicines and health goods and hundreds of generators. London has also promised up to 20 ambulances and 13 armored vehicles to help rescue civilians from dangerous situations.
France
A month ago, President Emmanuel Macron announced a $300 million increase in his country's financial pledge to Ukraine, to $2 billion (1.9 billion euros). After the outbreak of war, France had already provided relief goods for 100 million euros.
The sums do not include military aid, on which France is keeping a rather low profile. As early as mid-April, the Ministry of Defense announced that France had supplied Ukraine with military equipment worth 100 million euros. This was later followed by the delivery of Caesar howitzers; 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 ruling parties, the government prevailed on deliveries of heavy weapons, which were approved in three decrees.
Italy does not make the details public. Reportedly, this includes Stinger missiles, howitzers and anti-tank missiles. According to the media, the supplies of the first decree cost up to 150 million euros. Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini later indicated the other two decrees were similar in scope.
Right on the first day of the war, the 24. February, Italy had provided Ukraine with a loan of 110 million euros. In April, another 200 million euros were added, according to Finance Minister Daniele Franco. In addition, Rome provided more than 900 million euros for the reception of refugees in Italy.
Canada
The heaviest weapons Ottawa has sent to Ukraine so far are four M-777 artillery pieces. In addition, Justin Trudeau's government provided Kiev 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. Canada's 2022 budget includes the equivalent of 365 million in assistance.
Separate from military financial support, the Ministry of Finance in Ottawa most recently announced that it had provided the equivalent of 1.37 billion euros in loans from the International Monetary Fund to date.
The money is to be used, among other things, to stabilize Ukraine's economy. In addition, the Canadian government has imposed sanctions on more than 1,000 individuals and organizations and significantly raised tariffs on products from Russia in the wake of the Russian invasion.
Japan
The country is providing $200 million (190 million euros) in emergency humanitarian aid to Ukraine in areas such as health, medical care, food and protection of people in Ukraine and neighboring countries through international organizations. In addition, $600 million (571 million euros) in financial assistance in the form of loans.
Japan does not send weapons to Ukraine, because the pacifist postwar constitution does not allow it. However, it is a big step for the country to provide equipment to a warring party for the first time, 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 deliberately so-called Self-Defense Forces.
Japan is also transporting UNHCR relief supplies on aircraft belonging to its armed forces and providing personnel to provide medical care to evacuees. In addition, Japan, which is normally extremely restrictive in granting asylum, is accepting evacuees from Ukraine and offering to extend visas to Ukrainian citizens already living in Japan.