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Ukraine's army and state run on foreign money and weapons. Until 2025 the United States was the largest donor; it now sells arms that Europeans pay for, and the European Union carries the budget. The argument among the donors is over how much, for how long, from whose pocket, and to what end.
The wider war, its history and each side's full account: Russia's war in Ukraine.
On 1 September Brussels said the 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine is enough for now, amid growing doubts. On 11 September the European Union approved a 6.1 billion euro defence package for Ukraine. On 18 September Ukraine received 3.3 billion euros in European Union funds for armaments, and Canada sought to join the 90 billion euro support loan, which Brussels confirmed. On 19 September Russia held a parliamentary vote in the areas of Ukraine it holds, as the European Union pressed funding. On 29 September the International Monetary Fund warned Ukraine faces a 54 billion dollar funding gap by 2029.
Burden. America has handed the bill to Europe. Within Europe the northern and eastern states give most as a share of their economies, and the large southern ones least.
Whose money. About 200 billion euros of Russian state reserves are frozen in Europe. Using them for Ukraine would spare taxpayers and, its critics say, break the rules on which Europe's own financial standing rests.
Purpose. The aid has been enough to keep Ukraine from losing and never enough for it to win. Donors disagree whether that is prudence, failure, or the policy.
Ukraine is fighting Europe's war at a fraction of what a Russian victory would cost Europe. The aid is small beside the donors' defence budgets, much of it is spent in their own factories, and no allied soldier has died. Every delay, on tanks, on aircraft, on long-range missiles, has been paid for in Ukrainian lives and territory.
In Hungary, Slovakia, on the American right and on parts of the European left and right the view is that the aid prolongs a war Ukraine cannot win, at the expense of taxpayers who were never asked, and risks a direct clash with Russia. Money vanishes into a corrupt state. The weapons would be better kept at home, and the effort spent on a settlement.
Kyiv's and the donors' leaves out that they have no agreed aim for the war, that European arsenals and budgets are strained, and the corruption cases inside Ukraine's procurement.
The sceptics' leaves out what a Russian victory would cost them, and that several of them buy Russian energy on favourable terms.
Washington's leaves out how much of its aid was spent in American factories, and the leverage over both Kyiv and Europe that comes with being the supplier.
Names and terms the sides do not share. This page keeps them out of its own voice.
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America has paid more than its share for Europe's security for decades. It will sell what Ukraine needs and expects to be paid, in money or in access to Ukraine's minerals. Europe is rich enough to defend its own continent.
