EU to press Canada and UK for more Ukraine funding
As Brussels works on closer ties with both countries, it is also looking for partners to help meet Kyiv’s rising costs.
BRUSSELS — The European Union is set to attempt to convince Canada and the United Kingdom to boost their financial support for Ukraine as part of efforts to address the impending €70 billion funding shortfall the country faces next year. High-level summits scheduled for October 29-30 with Canada and November 20 with the U.K. will provide Brussels with an opportunity to make its case at the highest level.
With Kyiv's financing requirements increasing and the United States' commitment to Ukraine's defense uncertain, Brussels is increasingly looking to non-EU allies to contribute more, according to five EU officials and two EU diplomats speaking to POLITICO. The EU and its member states provide 80 percent of Ukraine's external aid, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating that "we urgently need other partners to step up."
The EU has pledged a €90 billion loan for 2026 and 2027, intended to cover about two-thirds of Ukraine's needs. However, other partners such as Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Norway have yet to provide their share, which the EU had anticipated would amount to another €45 billion. While calls for aid to Ukraine have not been new, the projected 2027 bill has risen due to Russia's intensified aggression, the costs of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, and Washington's changing stance more favorable to Moscow, leaving Europe and its allies to bear a greater share of the cost of supporting Kyiv.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
