Comparative Analysis of Germany’s and France’s Military Aid to Ukraine (2022–2024)

Abstract

The article examines German and French strategies for military support of Kyiv starting from 2022. The analysis reveals two different models for military assistance, although gradually they became more similar. While France distributes money mainly by means of the European Peace Facility, Germany focuses more on bilateral support. Having not much military equipment in stock, Paris started delivering military equipment from the French army and later established a special fund to provide direct supplies to Ukraine. Berlin, at first, tended to avoid the delivery of heavy weapons, participation in “Ringtausch” and transfer of weapons from Bundeswehr stocks, but later bought more military equipment from German industry through state funds for security capacity building. Since 2024, both countries have been involved in capability coalitions for military support of Ukraine. France and Germany went through three stages of their policies: 1) restricted deliveries of European weapons to Ukraine (spring 2022); 2) a gradual increase in EU military supplies from stock, and the launch of production (second half of 2022 – early 2023); 3) increase of the military industry capacity (2023–2024). Both countries stimulate each other to support Ukraine, but their volumes of supplies and types of weapons do not always coincide. Both countries have to increase their military capacities to fulfill commitments for Ukraine, especially the production of the SAM system IRIS-T SLM and self-propelled howitzer CAESAR as well as the launch of new facilities for artillery shells. The authors conclude that Paris and Berlin have no joint projects and agreements for joint procurement. Thus, unlike other crises, the current conflict makes France and Germany act in parallel, but not together.