Scholz Attributes Government Collapse to Ukraine Aid Assistance
Germany's ruling coalition has fallen apart following the refusal of the FDP leader to support proposals aimed at boosting aid to Kiev, according to Chancellor Scholz. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Finance Minister Christian Lindner was dismissed due to his unwillingness to boost funding for Kiev, according to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Scholz indicated that the primary factor leading to the breakdown of Germany’s ruling coalition was Lindner’s refusal to endorse a budgetary plan aimed at increasing aid to Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Scholz removed Lindner, the leader of the pro-business Free Democratic Party, one of three parties in Germany’s “Traffic Light” coalition government, which also includes the Social Democrats and the Greens.
The discord between Scholz and Lindner escalated following a meeting where coalition members could not agree on how to address a multibillion-euro budget deficit and stimulate the faltering economy.
During a press conference that day, Scholz explained that his decision to let go of Lindner – who left along with other FDP ministers – was made to “turn away damage from our country.” He noted that he had proposed a comprehensive solution to Lindner to address the budget gap without “plunging our country into chaos.”
Scholz outlined his proposal, which included four main points: ensuring affordable energy costs, securing jobs in the automotive sector, introducing an investment premium to attract capital to Germany, and “increasing our support for Ukraine, which is heading towards a severe winter.” He emphasized the need for Germany to send a global signal of reliability, especially in light of the political climate following Donald Trump’s victory.
“The finance minister shows no willingness to implement this offer in the federal government for the benefit of our country. I do not want to subject our country to such behavior any longer,” Scholz stated.
With the coalition's disintegration, Scholz is now leading a minority government and has announced plans for a vote of confidence in mid-January, which could potentially lead to a snap election in March.
Previous reports suggested that Lindner had urged the Defense Ministry to curtail military assistance to Kiev, citing fiscal constraints. Berlin has significantly reduced its aid to Ukraine, decreasing assistance from €7.5 billion in 2024 to only €4 billion in 2025.
Russia has consistently criticized Western military support for Ukraine, arguing that it merely prolongs the conflict while imposing financial burdens on taxpayers without changing the conflict's outcome.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
Scholz indicated that the primary factor leading to the breakdown of Germany’s ruling coalition was Lindner’s refusal to endorse a budgetary plan aimed at increasing aid to Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Scholz removed Lindner, the leader of the pro-business Free Democratic Party, one of three parties in Germany’s “Traffic Light” coalition government, which also includes the Social Democrats and the Greens.
The discord between Scholz and Lindner escalated following a meeting where coalition members could not agree on how to address a multibillion-euro budget deficit and stimulate the faltering economy.
During a press conference that day, Scholz explained that his decision to let go of Lindner – who left along with other FDP ministers – was made to “turn away damage from our country.” He noted that he had proposed a comprehensive solution to Lindner to address the budget gap without “plunging our country into chaos.”
Scholz outlined his proposal, which included four main points: ensuring affordable energy costs, securing jobs in the automotive sector, introducing an investment premium to attract capital to Germany, and “increasing our support for Ukraine, which is heading towards a severe winter.” He emphasized the need for Germany to send a global signal of reliability, especially in light of the political climate following Donald Trump’s victory.
“The finance minister shows no willingness to implement this offer in the federal government for the benefit of our country. I do not want to subject our country to such behavior any longer,” Scholz stated.
With the coalition's disintegration, Scholz is now leading a minority government and has announced plans for a vote of confidence in mid-January, which could potentially lead to a snap election in March.
Previous reports suggested that Lindner had urged the Defense Ministry to curtail military assistance to Kiev, citing fiscal constraints. Berlin has significantly reduced its aid to Ukraine, decreasing assistance from €7.5 billion in 2024 to only €4 billion in 2025.
Russia has consistently criticized Western military support for Ukraine, arguing that it merely prolongs the conflict while imposing financial burdens on taxpayers without changing the conflict's outcome.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
