EU says Ukraine may receive around 30 billion euros by end-2026, with 70 billion euro gap looming for 2027
The European Commission said Ukraine could receive roughly 30 billion euros from the EU by the end of 2026 if it continues implementing agreed reforms. At the same time, the Commission acknowledged an estimated 70 billion euro gap in Ukraine's 2027 budget and has been asked by EU leaders to propose ways to close it, partly with international partners. Slovakia and Hungary have already said they will not join the 70 billion euro effort.
Key points
- Ukraine could receive around 30 billion euros from the EU by end-2026, conditional on continued reform implementation, per Commission spokesperson Balázs Ujvári.
- The Commission projects a financing gap of about 70 billion euros in Ukraine's 2027 budget that must be covered by international partners.
- The European Council has tasked the Commission with preparing proposals to close that 70 billion euro shortfall.
- At a 16 October Brussels summit, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the war would cost Ukraine 155 billion euros in 2027 and asked EU leaders to find an additional 70 billion euros in support.
- French President Emmanuel Macron said G7 countries, European states and other Kyiv allies will consider Ukraine's request for the additional 70 billion euros in defence financing.
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Slovakia and Hungary will not join the proposed 70 billion euro initiative.
- On 14 October the Commission allocated a new 2.86 billion euro tranche under the 90 billion euro support loan for drones, air defence systems, missiles, radars, electronic warfare systems and ammunition.
Why it matters
The numbers set out the short- and medium-term scale of EU financial support Ukraine can expect, tied to continued reform implementation. The Commission's mandate to propose solutions for a 70 billion euro 2027 gap effectively launches work on a new multi-tens-of-billions package, part of which is meant to come from non-EU partners, putting pressure on the G7 and other Kyiv allies. Slovakia's and Hungary's refusal signals internal EU divisions before the proposals are even drafted, while the 2.86 billion euro October disbursement shows defence-related spending is already flowing.
What happened
At a 19 October briefing in Brussels, European Commission spokesperson Balázs Ujvári said Ukraine could receive around 30 billion euros from the EU by the end of 2026 provided it continues to carry out the agreed reforms, adding that most of the sum comes from the 90 billion euro EU support loan for Ukraine and a portion falls outside it. Earlier, at a 16 October summit in Brussels, President Volodymyr Zelensky told EU leaders the war would cost Ukraine 155 billion euros in 2027 and appealed for an additional 70 billion euros in support. The Commission acknowledged the 70 billion euro shortfall in Ukraine's 2027 budget, which the European Council has tasked it with proposing ways to close, in coordination with other international partners. Ujvári stressed that the EU cannot act alone and needs firm commitments from partners. On 14 October the Commission allocated a new 2.86 billion euro tranche under the 90 billion euro support loan for defence purposes, including drones, air defence systems, missiles, radars, electronic warfare systems and ammunition.
Background
The 30 billion euro figure for 2026 draws largely on the 90 billion euro EU support loan for Ukraine, with disbursements conditional on Ukraine implementing agreed reforms. Macro-financial assistance is being released in tranches, with one tranche already paid and a further one tied to recent legislation adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. Of the projected 70 billion euro gap for 2027, 45 billion euros is expected to come from the EU itself, with the remainder from international partners.