Ukraine’s new defence minister seeks early release of EU loan to close $27bn funding gap
Ukraine’s new defence minister, Yevhenii Khmara, has pledged to present Kyiv’s international partners with a detailed plan for fighting Russia as the government seeks to bring forward part of a €90 billion European Union loan.
The move is intended to help cover a $27 billion shortfall in Ukraine’s defence budget after spending was brought forward to meet urgent military needs, according to Ukrainian officials.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, 30 August, Khmara said Ukraine would set out the missions facing its armed forces, the projects required to carry them out, the results expected and the timetable for delivering them.
“Ukraine will present partners with a clear vision and a clear plan,” he said, adding that Kyiv would also press existing allies to increase their contributions and seek support from countries that have not previously provided assistance.
The EU has committed €90 billion in financing for Ukraine across 2026 and 2027, with €45 billion allocated for each year. Kyiv is seeking to access some of the funding planned for next year sooner as it confronts mounting costs from its war effort.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that Ukraine had spent more than expected during the first half of the year. The government relies heavily on foreign financial and military support to sustain its resistance to Russia, now in its fifth year.
Khmara took over the defence ministry last month from Mykhailo Fedorov, whose dismissal followed weeks of rare wartime protests and political tensions. Khmara, a former special-forces commander associated with Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign, said he shared a “common vision” with the country’s new top military commander, Mykhailo Drapatyi.
Kyiv is seeking to regain the initiative partly through expanded long-range drone attacks against Russian oil infrastructure, defence manufacturing and logistics. However, Ukrainian forces continue to face shortages of manpower and air-defence systems needed to protect cities from Russian missile and drone strikes.
Khmara said Ukraine had tested four potential interceptor systems designed to destroy the jet-powered drones Russia has increasingly used in attacks. Swarms of the high-speed weapons have struck Kyiv for several consecutive days, killing civilians, damaging homes and warehouses and disrupting daily life.
The minister also acknowledged the need for clearer decision-making across the armed forces, from senior commanders to frontline units. He said Ukraine required “proper decisions” aimed at preserving soldiers’ lives and a consistent understanding of how the war should be fought and brought to an end.
His comments come as Ukraine faces continuing criticism over recruitment practices, battlefield management and alleged abuses. The government is under pressure to demonstrate that additional foreign funds would be tied to defined military objectives and measurable results.
