Ukraine has proposed to the European Union to consider the possibility of financing its Armed Forces, beginning in 2026.
This was stated by Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko following meetings with the financial representatives of the G7 countries held in Canada.
Ukraine Requests EU Support for Military Funding from 2026
The minister noted that the main topic discussed at these international meetings was ensuring funding for Ukraine in 2026.
“What we offer: participation of partners in financing the Armed Forces of Ukraine and integrating the Ukrainian army into the European defense system,” – wrote Serhiy Marchenko.
According to the Ukrainian minister, the costs for supporting the Armed Forces will constitute a small fraction of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the European Union.
Marchenko explained that these costs could be distributed among countries willing to join this initiative. Moreover, these contributions could be included in the calculation of defense expenditures of the respective countries, in accordance with their obligations to NATO.
“I emphasized that supporting Ukraine is an investment in the stability of Europe. Strengthening defense capabilities is not a political choice but a pressing necessity. We must act today to be strong in the future,” – underlined Marchenko.
Earlier, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that as part of the European Union's rearmament plan worth €800 billion, some funds would be allocated for military support to Ukraine.
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Recently, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of EU Member States at the ambassadorial level (Coreper) on Wednesday, May 21, approved the program “Action for Europe’s Security” (Security Action for Europe – SAFE).
This week, EU finance ministers are discussing a proposal to create a new joint defense fund – the European Defense Mechanism (EDM) – to finance the rearmament of the continent. According to the proposal, countries outside the EU, including Ukraine, can also join the fund.
In December, it was reported that the European Union was considering creating a joint defense fund of €500 billion to increase defense spending ahead of the inauguration of newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump.