German Chancellor Friedrich Merz calls for increased European aid to Ukraine

During an EU summit in Brussels on October 15, 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the urgent need to increase European financial support for Ukraine for 2027. While current funding is secured for 2026, officials anticipate a significant fiscal deficit for the following year that exceeds previous projections.

The European Union has already authorized a loan package of 90 billion euros covering the 2026-2027 period, which allocates 45 billion euros for 2027. However, this amount is now deemed insufficient to meet Ukraine's needs during the ongoing conflict. Chancellor Merz stated that funding must be increased to ensure sustainable long-term support for Kyiv.

In addition to addressing funding gaps, Chancellor Merz explicitly ruled out the possibility of transferring 210 billion euros in frozen Russian Central Bank assets to the United States, insisting these assets remain in Europe. While European leaders have begun discussions regarding the potential use of these frozen assets, diplomatic sources indicate that no formal decision is expected to be reached during the current summit.