Ukraine asks EU to release €6.6 bn from European Peace Facility for military aid

Ukraine’s defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote to the European Union urging the release of €6.6 billion that remains unspent in the European Peace Facility. He said Ukraine’s total defence budget for 2024 is about €136 billion, of which Kyiv can cover only roughly €53 billion, leaving a large financing gap.

Fedorov highlighted a “six‑to‑nine‑month window of opportunity” on the battlefield and argued that directing the EPF funds to weapons and drone production would have the most immediate military impact. He also noted that Ukraine is already set to receive about €28.3 billion for defence from the EU’s €90 billion loan programme.

The EU’s loan mechanism has already transferred a first defence‑related instalment of €3.9 billion to a special state budget fund, earmarked for drone production and other urgent equipment. While the request has broad EU support, Poland has said it will not forfeit compensation it is owed under the same fund.

If approved, the €6.6 billion would help bridge the shortfall and sustain Ukraine’s counter‑offensive operations against Russia.