EU Leaders to Press UK for Larger Ukraine Payment

Ursula von der Leyen will ask Prime Minister Andy Burnham to increase Britain's financial support for Ukraine at a summit scheduled for November 20.

European Commission President von der Leyen will meet with Burnham and European Council President António Costa in Brussels. The EU leaders intend to request that the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan provide more aid to Kyiv. Brussels states that previous requests for extra financial help from these G7 nations have not been answered.

The timing of the meeting coincides with Chancellor John Healey preparing his first budget next week. Healey is weighing calls for increased spending against rising borrowing costs and a weakening economic outlook. Earlier this month, Healey said he was working on different ways to support Ukraine through military, diplomatic, and economic means.

Ukraine reports a funding shortfall of 70 billion euros, or 58 billion pounds, for the year 2027. This deficit covers both defence and civilian needs. The European Commission states that the EU and its member states currently pay for 80% of Ukraine's financial needs. The commission considers two-thirds to be a fair share for the EU, with the remaining third covered by other allies. Von der Leyen told reporters last week that the EU would continue to lead but needed other partners to step up.

The EU agreed to a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine last year. This loan was intended to cover two-thirds of Kyiv's funding for 2026 and 2027. As Russia escalates attacks and the war enters its fifth winter, Ukraine's costs continue to rise. EU officials have prioritized the UK, Canada, and Japan but may also seek aid from Switzerland, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

The British government has committed 25 billion pounds to Ukraine, including 16 billion pounds in military aid. According to the Kiel Institute's Ukraine Support Tracker, the UK is the fourth largest donor after the US, Germany, and France. Weighted by GDP, the UK contributed 0.86% of national income. This is lower than France at 1.1% and Germany at 1.5%. Denmark contributed 4.2% and Estonia contributed 3.8%. The UK's contribution aligns more closely with France and Germany when their EU programme contributions are removed.

Ukraine is one of several issues at the November summit. Leaders are expected to conclude three agreements: a food and animal health deal to reduce paperwork, a linkage of EU and UK emissions trading schemes, and a youth mobility scheme for those aged 18 to 30. The commission proposed deferring the issue of university tuition fees to technical talks within six months of the summit. The UK wants to charge EU students the international rate, which is about four times the domestic fee. The EU seeks a return to pre-Brexit status quo where EU students paid home rates.

Senior EU sources believe they retain leverage because the food and emissions deals will not take effect until a youth mobility agreement is reached. This agreement must include acceptable terms on fees. One EU diplomat described the three elements as a gift to the UK but noted that the UK needs them. A second diplomat said there was no clear majority among the 27 member states to postpone the fee issue for six months.