EU leans on allies to help close Ukraine's growing funding gap

What Brussels is asking for

Fresh from talks with EU finance ministers in Dublin, joined by officials from the UK, Switzerland and Canada, EU economy chief Valdis Dombrovskis reiterated the plan for how Ukraine's funding is supposed to add up: "When we were putting forward Ukraine support loan, the idea was that should cover around two thirds of Ukraine's funding needs, and one third should be covered by other international partners."

The size of the hole and who is counting it

Earlier this year, the EU signed off on a €90 billion ($103 billion) loan to support Kyiv in 2026 and 2027. Even so, military spending has already left a roughly $27 billion shortfall. The International Monetary Fund, working with the European Commission, is evaluating how large the gap will be for next year.

Next stops: New York and national parliaments

With needs rising, the EU is pressing countries such as the UK and Japan to step up financially. People familiar with the plans say this funding push will be front and center when EU officials meet counterparts in New York during next week's United Nations General Assembly. Ukraine's finance minister, Serhiy Marchenko, who joined the Dublin meeting, said the gap for 2027 could be no less than $32 billion, while partners continue to run the numbers.

What could unlock more money

"Ukraine is facing larger funding needs because Russia's aggression - if anything - is increasing," Dombrovskis said, adding, "In a relatively short time we should be able to clarify the gap." He also said negotiations would progress more smoothly if Kyiv moved forward with the donor-endorsed reform agenda. Some elements, including tax proposals, are still waiting for approval in Ukraine's parliament. Progress on reforms, plus support from countries beyond the EU, could help unlock further contributions from EU members, according to people briefed on the discussions. Ideas on the table in European capitals include using part of the €210 billion in immobilized Russian central-bank assets held in Europe, as well as issuing more joint EU debt.

Global uncertainties remind investors to review plans for protecting and growing their savings. Join Briefs Finance CEO Jaspreet Singh on September 29th for a FREE live investor workshop, How to Profit From A Dollar That's Losing its Value, where he shows how we're spotting investment opportunities as the dollar falls. Save your spot.

For your wallet, the takeaway is simple: Europe and its partners are weighing big fiscal choices, and how they resolve them will shape the broader policy backdrop, from potential use of frozen Russian assets to debates over shared EU borrowing.

A steady, informed approach helps you preserve your capital and pursue long term growth. Our CEO Jaspreet Singh is hosting a FREE live investor workshop, How to Profit From A Dollar That's Losing its Value, on September 29th. Sign up free to join him live.