Ukraine Seeks Early EU Loan to Cover $27 Billion Military Budget Gap

Ukraine's new defence minister, Yevhenii Khmara, announced on August 30 that Kyiv will seek to bring forward part of a European Union loan planned for 2027 to address a $27 billion shortfall in this year's military budget. Khmara, a former special forces commander confirmed in his post by parliament on August 19, stated that Ukraine will present allies with a detailed war plan to support the request for early funds. The $27 billion gap was outlined by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv on August 24, which coincided with Ukraine's 35th Independence Day.