Even though it is not in a position at this stage to disburse a first instalment of aid to Ukraine as part of the European Union’s macro-financial loan for 2026 and 2027, the European Commission is continuing the preparatory work that will enable the rapid implementation of this €90 billion loan, which is still blocked due to Hungary’s opposition (see EUROPE 13825/26).
On Wednesday 1 April, the EU institution submitted to the EU Member States the financing strategy negotiated with the Ukrainian authorities for the year 2026.
“Today, we are taking the necessary preparatory steps to mobilise this year’s budget and procure defence equipment, with a focus on Ukraine’s cutting-edge drone industry”, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a statement.
Half of the total €90 billion envelope will be allocated in 2026. Of this €45 billion, budgetary support for the Ukrainian State will amount to €16.7 billion (50% through the ‘Ukraine Facility’ and 50% through the ‘Macrofinancial Assistance’ instrument). Military support will amount to €28.3 billion.
Requiring a qualified majority of EU countries to be adopted, the proposal for a decision on the financing strategy for Ukraine for 2026 was presented on Wednesday to the Member States’ ambassadors to the EU (Coreper). It has been forwarded to the relevant EU Council working group for further technical work.
To see the proposal for a Council Implementing Decision: https://aeur.eu/f/lfc ; and its annex: https://aeur.eu/f/ljs
Derogations for the procurement of drones. The Commission has also proposed authorising Ukraine to apply a derogation to its military procurements of UAVs in order to extend its suppliers to countries other than EU Member States and EEA/EFTA countries.
Such a waiver is possible when the military equipment in question is not available on the scale required or within a timeframe corresponding to the urgency of the war in Ukraine (see EUROPE 13801/15).
At this stage, this derogation has been granted “for drones only”, said Thomas Regnier, the Commission’s defence spokesman.
See the draft decision on the exemption for the purchase of drones : https://aeur.eu/f/lgo
However, European financial aid will only start to be paid to Kyiv when the Commission is authorised to borrow on the capital markets on behalf of the EU. To achieve this, Hungary will have to lift its veto on the legislative proposal amending the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which requires unanimity among EU countries.
Currently campaigning until 12 April, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is making his approval conditional on the resumption of Russian oil flows to his country via the Druzhba pipeline through Ukraine.
When questioned again on Wednesday, the Commission was unable to provide any further information about the European mission scheduled to inspect the damaged pipeline and carry out repairs.
Loans from G7 countries. On Wednesday, the EU institution also announced that it had received the sum of €1.4 billion corresponding to the profits generated in the second half of 2025 by Russian public assets immobilised in the EU.
According to the Commission, 95% of the money raised will be paid into the mechanism for macro-financial loans to Ukraine granted bilaterally by the G7 countries and 5% into the ‘European Peace Facility’. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)