Ukraine funding gap looms over Brussels defence talks
Good morning. This is Mared Gwyn with your Monday newsletter from Brussels. Today: the question of Ukraine's funding gap looms over EU defence talks, and the bloc's energy chief cautions over low energy storage. Let’s dive in.
European defence ministers are convening in Brussels to discuss bolstering support for Ukraine and fortifying the bloc's own territory, as reported by Angela Skujins from the European Council. This follows Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine, which continue to reverberate across Europe through rogue aircraft and drones. The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has proposed an emergency protocol for hybrid threats, and ministers will need to flesh out the details in their upcoming discussions.
The ministers are tasked with addressing the EU's financial gap in supporting Ukraine, with estimates suggesting Kyiv requires €23.5 billion in aid to sustain its military efforts. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi stated that €6 billion will be covered through fiscal restraint, while the rest will depend on international partners stepping in. The key question is whether Europe should continue pressuring Kyiv to implement necessary reforms to unlock more funds or provide unrestricted access to its coffers.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
