Ukraine’s new defence minister pledged a “clear” vision for Kyiv’s partners on how his country plans to fight Russia with more resources, in a bid to bring forward part of a European Union loan to help cover a $27 billion military budget deficit.
The Ukrainian government relies heavily on foreign funds to continue its war effort, now in its fifth year, with the EU committing €90 billion in financing through 2027.
In comments to reporters released on Sunday, Yevhenii Khmara said Kyiv would seek to bring forward part of the €45 billion loan planned for next year, as well as lobby allies for greater contributions and new countries that had not yet given.
“Ukraine will present partners with a clear vision and a clear plan: what tasks the Defence Forces face, what projects are needed for this, what results must be achieved, and within what timeframes,” he said.
The EU has earmarked €45 billion each for 2026 and 2027, allowing Ukraine to channel record funds toward defence. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week that Kyiv had spent more than expected in the first half of the year.
‘COMMON VISION’ FOR WARKhmara took over as defence minister last month from Mykhailo Fedorov, whose dismissal sparked rare wartime protests that prompted Zelenskiy to also fire his unpopular military chief.
