Urgent request from Kyiv: details of the appeal to Brussels
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has sent an official letter to European partners requesting financial support. Dated June 26, 2026, the document outlines specific figures and justifies the need for emergency funding. The ministry is requesting the allocation of €6.6 billion from the European Peace Facility.
In his appeal, Fedorov emphasized that Ukraine's total defense needs for the current year are estimated at €136 billion. Existing state resources can cover only a portion of these expenses—approximately €53 billion. The remaining deficit is planned to be covered by international aid, yet even with already pledged funds, the situation remains tense.
The math of the deficit and the role of the European Peace Facility
According to calculations presented in the letter, out of the total €90 billion in financial support from the EU, €28.3 billion is allocated for defense. This amount is insufficient to cover all military needs. This is why the Defense Minister views the European Peace Facility as a key source of the missing resources.
Fedorov noted that allocating the requested €6.6 billion would become "one of the most significant European contributions to Ukraine's defense this year." Special emphasis is placed on the targeted use of funds: finances must be directed where they can generate the maximum and immediate military effect.
Negotiation context: from public statements to secret letters
The Defense Minister's appeal is a continuation of a series of Kyiv's diplomatic efforts. A week before sending the letter, on June 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly urged Brussels to promptly release the €6 billion from the same fund. Despite active appeals, a decision on this matter has not yet been made.
Parallel to financial issues, discussions on military cooperation continue. It was previously reported that Kyiv and Paris are discussing the possibility of obtaining a license to produce SCALP missiles. At the same time, tensions persist within the Ukrainian leadership: Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has commented for the first time on rumors of a conflict with Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
The situation remains critical: the speed of decision-making in Brussels affects not only the current situation at the front but also the country's long-term defense strategy.
