The United Kingdom will provide more than 10 billion pounds ($13.3 billion) in support for Ukraine in 2027, Finance Minister John Healey announced on Oct. 28 during his presentation of the U.K. budget. Prime Minister Andy Burnham called it the biggest financial package the U.K. has ever committed to Ukraine, and President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the announcement as a strong and timely step.
The announcement came as part of Healey's presentation of the U.K. budget for 2027, amid growing pressure from the EU and Ukraine for Kyiv's partners to step up financial support. Ukraine faces an expected shortfall of 70 billion euros ($78 billion) in 2027, even when accounting for 45 billion euros ($50 billion) of already planned EU financial support.
In a social media post, the U.K.'s finance ministry said "Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine poses a serious threat to U.K. prosperity and security." "That's why this budget is providing over 10 billion pounds in additional support to Ukraine," the post read.
"It was the biggest financial package ever committed to Ukraine by the U.K. and was a symbol of this government's commitment to ensuring Ukraine had the means to continue its courageous fight against Russia's illegal invasion," Burnham said.
According to a U.K. government press release, the pledge combines financial, military and energy infrastructure support: 5.5 billion pounds ($7.3 billion) in World Bank guarantees; half a billion pounds ($660 million) to the World Bank's crisis facility; 3 billion pounds ($4 billion) through U.K. export finance, which prioritizes military support for Ukraine and has been pledged and delivered every year since the full-scale invasion began; and a further half a billion pounds in military support "to defend Ukraine from attacks this winter."
Zelensky said in a social media post that the announcement was "a truly strong and very timely step — coming right as Russia needs to see and feel that Ukraine will not be left alone." "I am grateful to Britain, to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his team, and to every person around the world who understands that standing with Ukraine is the right thing to do — that it means being on the right side of history," he said.
Until the U.K.'s announcement, Norway had been the only non-EU country to join efforts to shore up Kyiv's budget gap, pledging $9 billion for 2027. An ongoing EU-Canada summit in Montreal is expected to discuss cooperation on Ukraine, with hopes high that Canada will make a sizeable contribution. The EU is also considering options for supporting Ukraine in 2027, including an additional loan and different ways of using Russia's immobilized assets held in the bloc.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Ukraine's projected 2027 shortfall stands at 70 billion euros ($78 billion) even with 45 billion euros of planned EU support; the U.K. pledge of more than 10 billion pounds covers about a seventh of the gap.
- The timing is political as well as financial: it lands as partners are pressing for greater support and, in Zelensky's words, shows Russia that Ukraine "will not be left alone."
- The U.K. is the second non-EU country, after Norway, to pledge for 2027, sharpening pressure on other partners such as Canada to contribute.
Background
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, and Ukraine has depended on Western financial and military support through wartime conditions since. The U.K. has pledged and delivered an annual sum through U.K. export finance every year since the invasion began. For 2027, Kyiv's financing needs exceed the EU's planned 45 billion euros, and partners are being asked to close the shortfall.
Key Perspectives
Volodymyr Zelensky: welcomed the pledge as "a truly strong and very timely step" and thanked everyone "who understands that standing with Ukraine is the right thing to do."
Andy Burnham: described it as the biggest financial package ever committed to Ukraine by the U.K. and a symbol of the government's commitment to Ukraine's fight.
U.K. finance ministry: said Russia's illegal invasion poses a serious threat to U.K. prosperity and security, which is why the budget provides over 10 billion pounds in support to Ukraine.
What to Watch
- Whether Canada announces a sizeable contribution at the EU-Canada summit in Montreal.
- The EU's decision on an additional loan to Ukraine and on options for using Russia's immobilized assets in the bloc.
- Whether other partners follow the U.K. and Norway in pledging funds toward Ukraine's 2027 shortfall.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
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- Partly supportedThe UK announced its biggest-ever Ukraine support package of $13.3 billion for 2027.Kyiv Independent: ““It was the biggest financial package ever committed to Ukraine by the U.K.””
- Partly supportedThe UK will provide more than £10 billion ($13.3 billion) for Ukraine in 2027, announced by Finance Minister John Healey on Oct. 28.Kyiv Independent: “The U.K. is set to provide over 10 billion pounds ($13.3 billion) in support for Ukraine in 2027, British Finance Minister John Healey announced on Oct. 28.”
- SupportedThe UK finance ministry’s post said Russia’s invasion poses a serious threat to UK prosperity and security.Kyiv Independent: ““Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine poses a serious threat to U.K. prosperity and security,” reads a social media post from the U.K.'s finance ministry.”
- SupportedThe UK finance ministry’s post said the budget is providing over £10 billion in additional support to Ukraine.Kyiv Independent: ““That's why this budget is providing over 10 billion pounds in additional support to Ukraine,” the post reads.”
- SupportedBurnham said the package was the biggest ever committed by the UK and symbolised the government’s commitment to Ukraine’s fight.Kyiv Independent: ““It was the biggest financial package ever committed to Ukraine by the U.K. and was a symbol of this government's commitment to ensuring Ukraine had the means to continue its courageous fight against Russia's illegal invasion,” said U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham.”
- SupportedZelensky described the announcement as “a truly strong and very timely step” and said it showed Ukraine would not be left alone.Kyiv Independent: “President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the announcement as “a truly strong and very timely step — coming right as Russia needs to see and feel that Ukraine will not be left alone,” in a social media post.”
- SupportedZelensky said he was grateful to Britain, Burnham and others who stand with Ukraine and said this meant being on the right side of history.Kyiv Independent: ““I am grateful to Britain, to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his team, and to every person around the world who understands that standing with Ukraine is the right thing to do — that it means being on the right side of history,” Zelensky said.”
- SupportedUkraine faces an expected 2027 shortfall of €70 billion ($78 billion), even accounting for €45 billion ($50 billion) in planned EU support.Kyiv Independent: “Ukraine's financial outlook for 2027 is dire, with an expected 70 billion euros ($78 billion) shortfall, even when accounting for 45 billion euros ($50 billion) of already planned EU financial support.”
- SupportedThe pledge includes £5.5 billion in World Bank guarantees and £500 million for the World Bank’s crisis facility.Kyiv Independent: “Specifically, 5.5 billion pounds ($7.3 billion) will go into “World Bank guarantees” and a further half a billion pounds ($660 million) to the World Bank's crisis facility.”
- SupportedThe pledge includes £3 billion through UK Export Finance, which prioritises military support and has been pledged and delivered every year since the full-scale invasion began.Kyiv Independent: “Three billion pounds ($4 billion) will go into a British financial vehicle called “U.K. export finance”, which prioritizes military support for Ukraine. That sum has been pledged and delivered by the U.K. every year since the full-scale invasion began.”
- SupportedThe pledge includes a further £500 million in military support to defend Ukraine from attacks this winter.Kyiv Independent: “And a further half a billion pounds will go into “military support to defend Ukraine from attacks this winter,” the press statement reads.”
- SupportedUntil the UK’s announcement, Norway was the only non-EU country to join efforts to shore up Kyiv’s budget gap, pledging $9 billion for 2027.Kyiv Independent: “Until the U.K.'s announcement, Norway had been the only non-EU country to join the efforts to shore up Kyiv's budget gap, pledging $9 billion for 2027.”