The EU’s heads of state or government have called on the European Commission to present them with “a proposal” on how to cover “Ukraine’s additional needs for 2027”, European Council President António Costa said on Friday 16 October after the European Council summit.
He reported lengthy discussions among European leaders covering Ukraine’s military and financial situation, as well as hybrid attacks in the EU attributed to Russia.
With the war still raging, it is difficult to anticipate Ukraine’s budgetary needs, but “it is clear that we have a gap of 70 billion that needs to be covered”, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, acknowledged.
This €70 billion gap would come on top of the €45 billion in aid already planned by the EU for 2027 under its €90 billion loan for 2026 and 2027.
For 2026, however, the needs are known and the means to cover them have been identified. “€17 billion” remains from the EU’s €90 billion loan, Ms von der Leyen said, recalling that the funds would be disbursed if the Ukrainian authorities carried out the required reforms.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the financial needs were currently “being assessed by the Commission”. We know that the €90 billion loan “will not be enough”, he added, expecting to revisit the issue “in November and December”.
Faced with the inconsistency of the US position on Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, Europeans are closing ranks and trying to reassure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of their unwavering support as a difficult winter approaches.
“This is no time to withdraw the support to Ukraine. This is no time to relieve Russia’s sanctions. Now it’s time to increase our support [for Ukraine], to increase our pressure” on Russia, Mr Costa said. “The role of Europeans is to hold the line”, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
One way for the EU to increase pressure on Moscow is to prepare “a 22nd package of sanctions”, according to Ms von der Leyen.
Speaking to the press, Mr Zelensky welcomed the EU’s steadfast military, financial and political assistance to his country. “I feel that Europe is fully behind us at present. That has been particularly true over the past month”, he noted.
Although the Ukrainian army is holding the front line in Donbas, Ukraine is going through a difficult period. Facing difficulties at home, US President Donald Trump is trying to divert attention from the real reasons of the disruption he has caused to international energy markets in the Middle East by blaming Ukraine for everything. He announced an agreement on the supply of Russian diesel and asked Ukraine to stop striking Russian energy targets, which he says are responsible for the surge in oil and gas prices.
“Our analyses show that this will have no effect on prices”, Mr Zelensky said of the Russian-US diesel agreement.
As winter approaches, the Ukrainian President said he supported an energy ceasefire proclaimed by Donald Trump, accusing the Kremlin of failing to observe it. That is why he decided to resume Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil.
Faced with disruptions to supplies of US military equipment paid for by Europeans, Mr Zelensky asked them to provide the equipment needed to defend against Russian attacks using jet-powered drones and ballistic missiles. As for the speed of the internet signal provided by Starlink, the company owned by the American entrepreneur Elon Musk, the restoration of the service appears to be well under way, although discussions are ongoing with countries such as France to find an alternative solution.
According to the Ukrainian President, if Russia invades all of Ukraine, Europe will face a “major risk” and a massive influx of Ukrainians, while Russia is already testing it through hybrid attacks in Germany and Bulgaria (see EUROPE 13959/9).
“As long as Ukraine does not falter, there will be less escalation by Russia” in the EU, he argued.
Hungary. On the sidelines of the European Council Summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar and Mr Zelensky held their first bilateral meeting. In a statement, Mr Magyar welcomed the Ukrainian authorities’ efforts to uphold the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, progress that has enabled Hungary to lift its opposition to opening two chapters of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine.
To see the European Council conclusions on Ukraine: https://aeur.eu/f/nzg (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion with the editorial team)