The headline refers to recent speeches and interviews by Alice Weidel, co-leader of the opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD), criticizing Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the scale of Germany's financial and military support for Ukraine.

 

Over 100 Billion Euros For Ukraine Alone…': Alice Weidel Exposes How Merz Bankrolled Zelensky

The headline refers to recent speeches and interviews by Alice Weidel, co-leader of the opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD), criticizing Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the scale of Germany's financial and military support for Ukraine.

While official government data confirms that Germany's total bilateral commitments to Ukraine since 2022 have passed the €100 billion mark, the political dispute centers on whether this spending serves Germany's national interest and how future aid should be shared across Europe.

Alice Weidel's Claims and Criticisms

In a Bundestag speech and subsequent media interviews in late 2026, Alice Weidel accused Chancellor Merz of prioritizing Ukraine over German taxpayers. Key points from her remarks include:

• Total Cost to Germany. Weidel stated that direct civilian and military aid to Ukraine has exceeded €100 billion. She noted that this figure does not yet include Germany's share of EU-level loans, liability risks, or domestic welfare payments (such as citizen's allowance) for Ukrainian refugees.
• Domestic Economic Impact. She argued that German citizens are facing higher taxes, rising social security contributions, and industrial decline while taxpayer funds are sent abroad.
• Policy Demands. Calling the conflict an unwinnable "proxy war," Weidel demanded an immediate halt to all German financial and weapons transfers to Kyiv. She also called for restoring Russian oil and natural gas imports to lower domestic energy prices.

Official Data on the €100 Billion Figure

According to an official response from the German Federal Government to a parliamentary inquiry by the AfD, reported by Ukrainska Pravda, Germany's total bilateral assistance since February 24, 2022, stands at approximately €100.9 billion. However, the government breakdown adds important context to that figure:

• Multi-Year Scope. The €100.9 billion total spans multiple administrations—beginning under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz in 2022 and continuing under Friedrich Merz—rather than representing spending by Merz alone.
• Delivered vs. Earmarked Funds. The total includes approximately €57.6 billion in military support and over €43.3 billion in civilian support. A significant portion of the military figure consists of funds earmarked for future years rather than money already spent.
• Refugee Assistance. The €43.3 billion civilian figure includes domestic funds spent on housing and supporting Ukrainian citizens residing inside Germany.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Position

Chancellor Merz and the German Federal Government maintain that supporting Ukraine is vital to European and German security, arguing that the long-term cost of a Russian military victory would far exceed current aid expenditures.

At the same time, Merz has echoed concerns about Germany carrying a disproportionate financial burden compared to other European nations. In a letter to European Council President António Costa ahead of EU budget talks for 2028–2034, Merz demanded that all EU member states contribute fairly to closing Ukraine's projected €70 billion budget shortfall for 2027, warning he could block the long-term EU budget unless the financial responsibility is shared equally.