Ukraine offers Europe to directly fund Armed Forces
Photo: Ukraine’s Minister of Finance Serhii Marchenko (Getty Images)
Ukraine has proposed a new format of support for the Armed Forces to Europe. Direct financing will make aid more effective and faster, according to a statement by Ukraine’s Minister of Finance, Serhii Marchenko.
The Minister of Finance of Ukraine reported that during the G7 finance meetings in Canada, intensive negotiations took place with finance ministers of several partner countries, the IMF leadership, as well as discussions on Ukraine’s recovery and investment potential with Canadian businesses.
He emphasized that the G7 session sent clear signals regarding the continuation of support for Ukraine.
"The key topic raised with partners was ways to ensure Ukraine’s financial needs for 2026," Marchenko said.
Integration of Ukrainian military potential
According to the minister, a dialogue is currently underway regarding the possibility of integrating Ukraine’s military potential into Europe’s defense system.
"I am confident that such a decision has a number of strategic advantages for Ukraine, including maintaining financial stability in 2026 and beyond, and for the EU – protection against potential Russian aggression. After all, the Ukrainian army has all the necessary experience for this," he explained.
Marchenko clarified that Ukraine proposes:
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Partner participation in financing the Ukrainian Armed Forces,
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Integration of the Ukrainian army into Europe’s defense system.
"The costs of ensuring the Ukrainian Armed Forces for Europe’s security will constitute a small share of the EU’s GDP. This can be distributed among the countries willing to join the initiative and included in the calculation of defense spending according to those countries’ commitments to NATO," the minister noted.
According to Marchenko, given the military risks, Europe is already looking for ways to strengthen its defense, including by increasing the number of military personnel.
"But building such potential will require years and significant resources. Integrating the Ukrainian Armed Forces is an effective solution that offers economic benefits for partner countries," he emphasized.
The minister stated that he stressed that supporting Ukraine is an investment in Europe’s stability, and strengthening defense capabilities is not a political choice but an urgent necessity.
"We need to act today to be strong in the future. We continue systematic work with partners to ensure a fair and sustainable peace for Ukraine," Marchenko concluded.
It should be noted that since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the funds provided by the EU have been directed to support the Ukrainian budget, specifically covering social payments and budget expenditures, and could not be used for the needs of the Defense Forces.
Meanwhile, all the funds earned by Ukraine have been directed to the army.
Yesterday, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that the EU is launching a mechanism to develop a joint defense industry.
According to him, this will open new opportunities for Ukraine to participate in supply chains and procurement.
