UK faces €70bn Ukraine gap as EU sets November summit
The UK may be called to increase its support for Ukraine at an EU summit in November.
By Amina Kaminski ·
The UK may be called to increase its support for Ukraine at an EU summit in November, as the European Union is preparing to ask Andy Burnham to close a €70bn funding gap in 2027. This request follows calls from the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, who has urged other G7 countries, including the UK, to step up their financial aid to Kyiv. The UK, Canada, and Japan have been singled out for additional support, but their requests have not yet been answered. The timing is delicate, as the UK's chancellor, John Healey, is preparing his first budget and must balance calls for more spending with rising borrowing costs and a weak economic outlook. Ukraine has said it faces a €70bn shortfall in 2027 to cover its defence and civilian needs, with the EU and its member states currently paying for 80% of these costs. The EU last year agreed to a €90bn loan for Ukraine, intended to cover two-thirds of Kyiv's funding in 2026 and 2027. However, as Russia escalates its attacks, Ukraine's costs continue to rise, and the EU is casting a wider net to include other countries in the effort. The UK has committed £25bn to Ukraine, including £16bn in military aid, but its contribution as a percentage of GDP remains lower than that of France and Germany. The summit will also address other issues, including a food and animal health deal, the linkage of the EU and UK emissions trading schemes, and a youth mobility scheme. The UK wants to charge EU students the international rate, while the EU wants a return to the pre-Brexit status quo, and there is no clear majority in the EU on postponing the tuition fee discussion.
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A photorealistic news photo scene showing a group of world leaders in a room, with a map of Ukraine on one wall and a table of documents in the foreground, illuminated by a soft light from a window, with a somber mood in the air.
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A photorealistic news photo scene showing a group of world leaders in a room, with a map of Ukraine on one wall and a table of documents in the foreground, illuminated by a soft light from a window, with a somber mood in the air.
