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EU Unveils €90 Billion Ukraine Loan Heavy on Defense Spending

EU lawmakers must still sign off, with a first payout targeted for early April.

Overview

  • The European Commission proposed allocating €60 billion for military assistance and €30 billion for budget and reform support within an interest-free package covering 2026–27.
  • The EU budget would back the borrowing, with annual interest costs of roughly €3–4 billion covered by the EU rather than Ukraine.
  • Repayment would occur only if Ukraine receives Russian reparations, with the option to use frozen Russian assets in the EU if reparations do not materialize.
  • Military procurement would follow a cascade that prioritizes availability in Ukraine, the EU or the EEA before purchases from other suppliers.
  • The plan formalizes a shift toward EU-level borrowing after the pandemic fund, as an earlier idea to finance larger loans directly from frozen Russian central-bank assets faltered and commentators questioned repayment prospects and oversight.