Moscow, July 8 -- The European Union is urgently exploring options to cover Ukraine's USD 19 billion budget deficit in 2026, including by using frozen Russian state assets, as US support for Kiev continues to decline and a ceasefire remains out of reach, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
A senior European official involved in discussions with Kiev told the newspaper that many who anticipated a ceasefire agreement in 2025 had to reassess costs, acknowledging a financing "hole" despite efforts to minimize it.
The European Commission has been forced to adjust Ukraine-related spending in 2025. A European diplomat told the newspaper that the EU intends to ensure that Kiev's needs are covered befo...