Ukraine’s 2027 Budget Crisis: Kyiv Urges EU to Seize Russian Assets Amid $78B Shortfall
Ukraine’s finance minister, Sergii Marchenko, has urged the European Union to seize immobilized Russian assets to cover a projected $78 billion funding gap in 2027. Kyiv faces a $32.6 billion shortfall in donor aid and $45 billion in unguaranteed defense costs. While the EU holds €210 billion in frozen Russian funds, political opposition from Belgium and skepticism from France and Italy have stalled previous attempts to access these assets. The European Commission currently prioritizes disbursement of a €90 billion loan, contingent on Kyiv completing required reforms, rather than pursuing new asset seizures.