European Commission: Ukraine's financial gap for 2026 does not exist

What happened to the previously reported vulnerability?

"Yesterday, together with our Ukrainian friends, we came to the conclusion that there is no financial gap," Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho told journalists in Brussels today, referring to the meeting of the European Commission and the Kiev authorities. The statement of the EC spokeswoman means that Ukraine does not need additional external financing in 2026.

However, Brussels does not say that it has found an additional $27 billion. The Commission refers questions about Kiev's previous calculations to the Ukrainian government. Therefore, it is not known exactly what happened to the previously reported vulnerability and how it was "filled up".

Ukraine must implement reforms to receive further payments

Yesterday, the EU and Ukraine announced that they had found funds to cover Ukraine's budget and defense needs this year. The Commission primarily points to the money already included in EU programs. After today's disbursement of EUR 2.9 billion, approximately EUR 33.7 billion remains in these programs to be used in 2026.

Reforms are a condition for further financing. Brussels emphasizes that Ukraine must implement the agreed reform plan in order to receive further payments. Today's EUR 2.9 billion was transferred after Ukraine implemented further reforms - including in the judiciary, finances, energy, transport and agriculture.

Journalists also asked about corruption allegations in Ukraine, including those involving President Zelensky, and whether the EC had therefore increased control over the use of EU money. In response, the EC emphasized that support is subject to specific conditions, and the EU has instruments to investigate possible irregularities.

The EC appeals to international partners

Ukraine's financial problem is increasingly shifting to 2027. According to yesterday's arrangements, the EU is to quickly release EUR 45 billion of the EUR 90 billion loan to Ukraine next year. Kiev, however, wanted to receive at least some of the money allocated for 2027 this year, but it did not receive it.