EU seeks wider burden-sharing

Brussels is turning to its partners outside the bloc because, on its own account, it is carrying more than its share. The European Commission says the EU and its member states are paying for 80% of Ukraine's financial needs, though it considers a fair EU share to be two-thirds. EU officials argue that the UK, Canada and Japan should do more to support Ukraine, but say recent appeals to these G7 countries for extra financial aid went unanswered.

The pressure comes as Ukraine says it faces a €70bn (£58bn) funding shortfall in 2027 to pay for its defence and civilian needs. Russia is escalating its attacks, dragging the war into its fifth winter, and Ukraine's costs continue to spiral. The EU last year agreed a €90bn loan for Ukraine, intended to cover two-thirds of Kyiv's funding in 2026 and 2027.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told reporters last week:

How the UK's support compares

The British government says it has committed £25bn to Ukraine, including £16bn in military aid. Independent rankings give a mixed picture of where that places Britain:

• The UK is Ukraine's fourth largest donor, behind the US, Germany and France, according to the Kiel Institute's Ukraine Support Tracker.
• Kiel researchers assessed the UK as spending 0.86% of national income on Ukraine support, compared with 1.1% from France and 1.5% from Germany.
• Denmark (4.2%) and Estonia (3.8%) spend significantly more of their national income than the UK, France and Germany.
• The UK is more in line with France and Germany when their contribution to EU programmes is stripped out.

What London says, and what else is on the table

John Healey, who is preparing his first budget next week while weighing calls for more spending against the rising cost of government borrowing and a darkening economic outlook, signalled openness earlier this month. He said the UK is "working on different ways we can step up support for Ukraine – military, diplomatic and economic".

Burnham will meet von der Leyen and European Council president António Costa at the EU-UK summit on 20 November in Brussels, where the funding request will be made. Von der Leyen will make a similar call to Canadian prime minister Mark Carney at an EU-Canada summit in Montreal next week.

The EU also brings leverage to the table. Leaders at the summit are expected to conclude three agreements:

• a food and animal health (SPS) deal to reduce Brexit paperwork
• linkage of the EU and UK emissions trading schemes
• a youth mobility scheme for 18- to 30-year-olds

The SPS and ETS deals will not come into force until there is a youth mobility agreement acceptable to the European side, including on tuition fees. The commission has proposed deferring the tuition fees question, with officials suggesting it be resolved in technical talks within six months of the 20 November summit. The UK wants to charge EU students the international rate, about four times higher than the domestic fee, while the EU wants a return to pre-Brexit home rates.

One EU diplomat described the three elements as "a sort of gift to the UK, but not a massive gift", adding that "the leverage is that the UK needs this". A second diplomat said there is no consensus among the EU's 27 member states on postponing the fees question, saying "there is no clear majority saying 'let's drop it now for six months'".

Another source of pressure is the UK's hope to strike economic security agreements with the EU to avoid British industry becoming collateral damage of Europe's defensive measures against China. The European Commission declined to comment on specific countries, referring to a statement: "We always said that we cannot walk this alone … therefore our partners in general must step up."