Von der Leyen: G7 will help Ukraine with the budget for 2026-2027

The President of the European Commission emphasized that the EU loan package covers only two-thirds of Kyiv's needs, and called on partners to intensify support during the summit in Evian, France.

Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Evian with a clear message: Ukraine's financial stability for the next two years depends not only on Brussels. The 90 billion euro loan package approved by the European Union covers two-thirds of the budget deficit, but the rest will have to be sought from G7 partners. The first tranches will arrive in June 2026, and the issue of additional funds will be central to the G7 summit.

Budget realities of Ukraine: figures and forecasts

According to the European Commission, Ukraine’s total financing needs for 2026–2027 are estimated at approximately €135 billion. Of this, €90 billion is provided by the EU through the macro-financial assistance mechanism. The remaining €45 billion is the amount that von der Leyen is asking G7 partners to cover. Possible sources include the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom. IMF analysts noted in their May 2026 review that without additional guarantees, Kyiv risks facing a deficit of $12–15 billion as early as the first quarter of 2027.

It is important that the new EU package includes not only loans, but also a grant component of 20 billion euros. This allows reducing the debt burden on the Ukrainian budget. At the same time, von der Leyen emphasized that the first payments under the program will begin this month — in June 2026. The funds will go to pay pensions, salaries to state employees, and support energy infrastructure.

Opening of the first cluster of accession negotiations

In parallel with the financial issues, von der Leyen announced a historic step: the opening of the first negotiating cluster in the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU. This became possible after Kyiv fulfilled Hungary's last demand to protect the rights of national minorities. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos expects the remaining five clusters to open in July 2026 during the next intergovernmental conference.

Ukraine has made significant progress in reforms: anti-corruption legislation has been brought into line with EU standards, judicial reform is ongoing, and the digitalization of public services is recognized as one of the best in Europe. Von der Leyen emphasized: “They have done their part, so now we must do ours.” This means that the EU is committing to speed up technical assistance and open access to European funds for Ukrainian companies already at the negotiation stage.

The role of the G7 in global support for Ukraine

The Evian summit comes amid new challenges. In May 2026, the United States and Iran signed an agreement to partially lift sanctions, which has affected oil prices and Europe's energy security. This makes the issue of financial assistance to Ukraine even more urgent, as Kyiv's stability directly affects the continent's energy market.

Atlantic Council analysts predict in a June 2026 report that without an additional 45 billion euros from the G7, Ukraine will be forced to cut defense spending by 8–10%. This may affect the pace of counter-offensive operations. Therefore, von der Leyen is calling on partners not only to provide funds, but also to guarantee long-term credit lines at low interest rates.

Reforms and internal changes in Ukraine

The opening of the "Fundamentals" cluster was made possible by the fulfillment of four key requirements: reform of the Constitutional Court, updating of anti-corruption legislation, protection of minority rights, and introduction of electronic declaration for all officials. The Government of Ukraine has already published a roadmap for the implementation of the remaining five clusters by the end of 2026. In particular, it is planned to fully harmonize environmental legislation and create an independent energy regulator according to the European model.

Experts from the Center for European Strategies in Kyiv note that the opening of negotiations will have a positive impact on the investment climate. In the second half of 2026, foreign direct investment is expected to increase by 15–20% compared to 2025. Companies from Germany and France are actively exploring opportunities to participate in energy and logistics recovery projects.

International context and prospects

The issue of Ukraine at the G7 summit will not be limited to finances. The leaders will also discuss strengthening the sanctions regime against Russia and mechanisms for controlling the export of dual-use technologies. Japan and Canada have already announced their readiness to join a new program of credit guarantees for Ukraine. The United Kingdom, in turn, has proposed a mechanism for insuring military risks for foreign investors.

Another meeting in the Ukraine-G7 format is expected in July 2026, where a memorandum on joint financial support for 2027–2028 will be signed. This will allow Kyiv to plan the budget three years in advance and reduce dependence on annual donor decisions.

Conclusions and next steps

Ursula von der Leyen's statements in Evian clearly outline a new phase of support for Ukraine: from emergency funding to systemic integration into European structures. The opening of the first cluster of accession negotiations and the simultaneous call to the G7 for additional funds demonstrate that the EU is ready to take the lead in this process. The coming weeks will show how quickly the G7 partners will respond to this call.