Brussels is pressing its G7 partners to increase funding for Ukraine next year to offset an expected reduction in support from non-EU countries.
According to a European Commission forecast seen by the newspaper, Ukraine’s allies outside the EU have so far pledged only €4bn for next year, compared with €19bn in 2026. The US, the UK, Canada and Japan together account for just €1bn of that total.
Ukraine previously said it would face a funding shortfall of €70bn next year, and the European Commission has confirmed that estimate. It also includes military needs once the last stocks of weapons supplied under the Joe Biden administration have been exhausted. US President Donald Trump has halted direct US funding for Ukraine.
The EU has already begun emergency planning to find additional funds to maintain Ukraine’s financial stability next year if NATO and G7 partners do not increase their support.
At this month’s summit, EU leaders agreed to seek additional support to meet Ukraine’s needs in 2027. European Commission officials are working through various options, including a joint issuance of debt. They plan to discuss them at a summit at the end of November.
European leaders have also urged international partners to step up support for Ukraine swiftly. Since then, diplomats say, the EU has been holding bilateral talks with London, Ottawa and other capitals.
The UK and Canadian governments are preparing to announce their 2027 budgets, and Brussels will be watching whether they include new commitments on aid for Ukraine. Japan’s foreign ministry said it is considering possible options to meet Ukraine’s financial needs.
Aid for Ukraine has become part of tense negotiations over the EU’s next seven-year budget. Leaders want to agree it by the end of the year, ahead of a series of elections, including in France and Italy, which could complicate decision-making.
Brussels does not plan to cover the shortfall on its own that would arise from reduced contributions by other allies, and is using diplomatic channels to urge Canada, Japan and the UK to increase their support.
A European Commission spokesperson said the EU and its member states account for 80% of the pledged support for Ukraine in 2027.
Meanwhile, Canada’s finance ministry says that since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ottawa has committed to provide Ukraine with assistance worth C$27bn. At the same time, it has not said what specific measures may be included in the budget to be presented on 5 November.
A representative of Japan’s foreign ministry questioned the European Commission’s estimates. According to him, the government cannot make final statements about the possibility of future financial support for Ukraine. However, Japan is considering options to meet Kyiv’s financial needs in light of further developments, including talks among G7 members.
A NATO official said the Alliance’s Secretary General Mark Rutte expects allies to continue their strong support for Ukraine.
Separately, according to European Commission estimates seen by the FT, 32 NATO countries have not met the pledge made this year to provide Ukraine with a total of €70bn in military aid. The declared amount is short by €13bn.
- Ukraine’s total need for external budget financing next year exceeds $52bn. The country’s defence capability, pension payments, and the operation of hospitals and businesses depend on these funds.