The EU is seeking partners to share in Ukraine’s financial support over the next two years.

Before the new seven-year EU budget for 2028-2034 is adopted, the EU will not be able to fully cover Ukraine’s financial needs on its own, so it is negotiating with partners on how to split aid costs, said EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, commenting on the details of the Global Europe budget section. “Ukraine needs about €80B a year to operate as a state. EU funds will not be enough”, Kos acknowledged.

Consequently, the EU has started talks with partners, which took place on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. “I chaired the ministerial meeting of the donor group, and we have already begun discussing within the group, along with Canada, Japan, and some other countries, including the UK, how we can assist Ukraine during these two interim years”, Kos explained.

The official also highlighted that the €100B proposed by the European Commission for Ukraine in the next seven-year EU budget shows the fallacy of the assumption that European financial aid to Ukraine will decrease over time.