EU rebukes Germany for unilateral £6bn Ukraine funding package

THE European Commission has rebuked Germany for unilaterally pledging £6 billion in aid for Ukraine in the latest twist in a row between Paris and Berlin over support for Kyiv.

Thierry Breton, the internal market commissioner, attacked Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, for not committing the money to the EU’S European Peace Facility weapons fund . Diplomats in Brussels said the move highlighted strained relations between France and Germany.

“We see that Germany is trying to go solo, it hasn’t fooled anyone, and in particular it is trying to stop supporting the European Peace Facility,” Mr Breton, who was chosen by Emmanuel Macron as France’s representative in the commission, said in Paris on Monday.

His comments come a week after Mr Scholz said EU member states weren’t doing enough to support Ukraine in a thinly veiled swipe at Mr Macron, whose support is dwarfed by Germany’s.

The EU is further divided between those governments who support Mr Scholz’s call and those anxious he will derail the EU fund, which allows states to claim back for hardware sent to Kyiv, diplomats in Brussels said.

The relationship between France and Germany, the

EU’S two most influential countries, was already tense after spats over energy subsidies, Chinese electric car imports and defence policy.

“A broader group of member states don’t mind Scholz urging them to do more. That stings for France, which hasn’t done as much. Hence Breton’s rebuke,” an EU diplomat told The Telegraph.

Germany is Ukraine’s second largest international backer behind the US, where Joe Biden’s plans for further aid are being blocked by Republicans in Congress. It has already given Kiev €17.1billion (£15billion), according to the Kiel Institute. Mr Macron announced plans for more bilateral support for Ukraine on Tuesday night.