EU asks Commission to explore extra funding for Ukraine in 2027

EU leaders have asked the European Commission to propose ways to cover Ukraine’s additional financing needs in 2027, after President Volodymyr Zelensky told a summit the country would need another €70bn next year. [1]

European Council President António Costa said the leaders wanted a proposal addressing the shortfall. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said other partners would also be urgently needed to help fill Kyiv’s budget gap.

The €70bn would be in addition to a previously promised €90bn loan for 2026 and 2027, due to be paid in two equal instalments: half this year and half next year.

A proposal on possible additional financing is expected before an informal meeting of EU leaders in Dublin in November, according to EU sources cited by Nieuws.nl. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said he did not expect leaders to agree on extra funding at that meeting, adding: “That would be too soon.”

Jetten said Ukraine would remain high on the EU agenda, including in discussions on the bloc’s 2028–34 budget. He argued that security and defence should be central to that budget, alongside Ukraine.