Brussels to press Canada and UK for more Ukraine cash at October and November summits

Brussels plans to use two upcoming summits to press Canada and the United Kingdom to increase their financial support for Ukraine, as Kyiv faces a €70 billion funding gap next year.

The EU-Canada summit on 29-30 October and the EU-U.K. summit on 20 November will give the European Commission its clearest opportunities to make the case at the highest political level, five EU officials — including two from the Commission — and two EU diplomats said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that the EU and its member states provide 80 percent of Ukraine's external aid and called on others to act: "We urgently need other partners to step up."

The EU has committed a €90 billion loan for 2026 and 2027, intended to cover about two-thirds of Ukraine's projected needs. Brussels had expected partners including Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Norway to provide a further €45 billion, but much of that money has been slow to arrive.

European Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said he raised the 2027 financing gap at IMF and World Bank Group meetings in Bangkok last week, calling for "broad burden sharing" and stressing "the importance of international partners each doing their part as Ukraine continues fighting Russian aggression."

Officials stressed the push was not a criticism of the UK — which has committed a total of £25 billion for Ukraine — or Canada, which has promised the equivalent of €5.4 billion in military assistance and €8.2 billion in other support. The point, they said, is that Kyiv's needs have grown as Russia intensifies its assault.