EU to ask UK to close Ukraine funding gap at November summit

European Union leaders will ask Prime Minister Andy Burnham to raise Britain’s financial contribution to Ukraine’s defense in 2027. The request will come during a summit in Brussels on 20 November. Brussels officials state that the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan need to provide more support to Kyiv.

The European Commission reports that Ukraine faces a 70 billion euro funding gap in 2027. This amount is equivalent to 58 billion pounds. The EU and its member states currently cover 80 percent of Ukraine’s financial needs. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters last week that the EU will continue to lead but needs other partners to step up. She did not name specific countries during that briefing.

Von der Leyen will make a similar request to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at an EU-Canada summit in Montreal next week. A parallel ask is planned for Burnham when he meets with von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa in Brussels. Brussels notes that previous requests for extra aid from these G7 nations at recent international meetings have not been met.

The timing is difficult for the British government. Chancellor John Healey is preparing his first budget next week. He is weighing calls for higher spending against rising borrowing costs and a worsening economic outlook. Earlier this month, Healey said he is working on different ways to step up support for Ukraine, including military, diplomatic, and economic measures.

The EU agreed to a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine last year. This loan was designed to cover two-thirds of Kyiv’s funding needs for 2026 and 2027. However, Russia’s attacks have escalated as the war enters its fifth winter, causing Ukraine’s costs to rise. EU officials have focused on the UK, Canada, and Japan, but they may also seek aid from Switzerland, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

British officials say the country has committed 25 billion pounds to Ukraine, including 16 billion pounds in military aid. The UK is the fourth-largest donor to Ukraine, behind the United States, Germany, and France. The Kiel Institute’s Ukraine Support Tracker assesses the UK’s contribution at 0.86 percent of national income. France contributes 1.1 percent, and Germany contributes 1.5 percent. Denmark contributes 4.2 percent, and Estonia contributes 3.8 percent.

The November summit will address three major agreements. Leaders are expected to finalize a food and animal health deal to reduce paperwork, a linkage of EU and UK emissions trading schemes, and a youth mobility scheme for those aged 18 to 30. The Commission proposed deferring the issue of university tuition fees to technical talks within six months. Senior EU sources believe they hold negotiating power because the first two deals will not take effect until the youth mobility agreement is resolved.