EU approves €90bn aid to Ukraine: what is known about the summit’s decision
19 December 07:27
The European Union has made a strategic decision to provide Ukraine with 90 billion euros in financial assistance in 2026-2027. The agreements were reached during the summit of EU leaders in Brussels on December 18-19, 2025. This was announced by the President of the European Council António Costa, noting that the decision was finally agreed by all member states, informs "Komersant Ukrainian"
What format of aid agreed by the European Union
According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, it is an interest-free loan, which Ukraine should repay only after Russia pays reparations for the damage caused.
The key parameters of the decision are:
- total amount – 90 billion euros;
- financing period – 2026-2027;
- form – interest-free loan;
- source of guarantees – frozen Russian assets.
Thus, the EU is actually laying down a mechanism whereby the financial burden of the war should be shifted to the aggressor state.
Frozen Russian assets and the reparation principle
European leaders have confirmed their intention to hold Russia’s frozen assets until Ukraine is fully compensated. According to Merz, this is a clear signal to the Kremlin that prolonging the war only increases rf’s economic losses.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga said earlier that the fears of some EU countries about the legal risks of using Russian assets were largely the result of Russian disinformation.
Why the summit decision is considered key
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said even before the start of the summit that the leaders would not end the meeting until a solution on long-term support for Ukraine was found.
Against the backdrop of
- military uncertainty,
- discussions in the U.S. about future aid packages,
- risks to EU financial stability,
- the €90 billion decision was one of the largest financial commitments by the EU in the history of its support for Ukraine.
A political signal to Moscow and international partners
European leaders explicitly link the new aid package to Russia’s responsibility for the war. The “money now, reparations after reparations” formula aims to:
- reduce financial pressure on Ukraine;
- to preserve the credit ratings of EU countries;
- to show Europe’s unity on the issue of war.
As Friedrich Merz noted, this is a clear signal to Vladimir Putin that the war against Ukraine has no prospects either militarily or economically.
