Brussels to Demand Kyiv Accelerate Reforms for Financing

European Union leaders intend to urge Ukraine to accelerate internal reforms on which further payments of multibillion-euro financial assistance in 2026 depend.

This was reported by Rapporteur, which reviewed the preliminary draft conclusions of the next European Council summit. The document is not yet final and may be changed before the meeting of EU leaders on October 15–16.

According to the draft, EU leaders intend to call on "all participants, in particular Ukraine, to intensify efforts" necessary for further payments under the Ukraine Support Loan credit of 90 billion euros and the Ukraine Facility program.

Rapporteur writes that of the 45 billion euros of credit earmarked for Ukraine for 2026, 14.9 billion euros have been provided to date. The publication links the delay of part of the funds, among other things, to the fact that the Verkhovna Rada has not yet adopted a number of anti-corruption and tax reforms stipulated by the agreements.

Among the measures that Brussels considers at risk of non-implementation are the abolition of the tax exemption for imported parcels and the introduction of taxation of income received through digital platforms.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko stated on September 28 that now may not be the best time for an additional increase in the tax burden on Ukrainians. According to him, citizens and businesses are already suffering significant losses due to ongoing Russian strikes.

EU financing is already directly linked to Ukraine's implementation of the stipulated reforms. On September 24, the EU Council approved the next payment of almost 3 billion euros under Ukraine Facility. The European Union reported that Ukraine has completed 84 of the 95 steps stipulated to date, i.e., about 88%.

Overall, Ukraine Facility provides for more than 50 billion euros in support for Ukraine until 2027. More than 40 billion euros of this amount are linked to reforms and investments provided for by the Ukrainian recovery and European integration plan, and the provision of funds depends on the achievement of set indicators.

In addition, under a separate Ukraine Support Loan credit, the EU has earmarked 90 billion euros for Ukraine for 2026–2027. For 2026, 45 billion euros are available, of which 8.35 billion are intended for macro-financial support, another 8.35 billion for Ukraine Facility, and 28.3 billion euros for supporting Ukraine's defense industry.

Based on materials: Rapporteur, EU Council