Ukrainian President Zelensky has announced Kyiv is awaiting $35 billion in European funding to meet the country’s defense needs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced Kyiv is awaiting 30 billion euros ($35 billion) in European funding to meet the country’s defense requirements.
He called on government and opposition lawmakers to support the measures, saying the funds were required for national defense.
The request comes as Ukraine’s Defense Ministry faces a $27 billion budget shortfall.
Zelensky said the ministry used money allocated for the second half of 2026 to finance drone production and other urgent needs during the first six months of the year.
Ukraine must now replace those funds and cover spending through the end of the year.
Of the $27 billion shortfall, between $8 billion and $10 billion is needed in advance to order weapons and other supplies for January 2027.
Nearly $20 billion would cover military salaries, payments to the families of personnel killed in the war, and other defense costs.
Zelensky said he was working with French and German counterparts to secure the funding.
Ukraine is seeking early access to the next tranche of European funding, as the country struggles to finance its military and counter ballistic missile attacks.
EU Approves $7.1B for Ukrainian Defense Procurement
The announcement comes as the European Commission approved 6.1 billion euros ($7.1 billion) in planned Ukrainian purchases of air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition, and radars.
Ukraine must first submit signed contracts with defense companies, which the European Commission will review before releasing the funds.
Most of the equipment is expected to come from EU manufacturers.
The funding comes from the 90-billion-euro ($104.9-billion) Ukraine Support Loan for 2026 and 2027.
Of the total, 30 billion euros ($35 billion) is intended for Ukraine’s state budget and 60 billion euros ($70 billion) for defense.
