The minister made the announcement in a Facebook post, following a meeting of G7 finance ministers in Canada. Marchenko said discussions focused on funding Ukraine in 2026 and noted that the cost of equipping the Ukrainian military would represent only a small fraction of the EU’s GDP.
The minister explained that expenses could be shared among countries willing to join the initiative and included as part of each nation’s defense spending under its NATO obligations—which are set to increase dramatically under pressure from Washington.
“What we are proposing is that partners contribute to financing the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with a view to integrating Ukraine’s army into Europe’s defense system,” Marchenko wrote.
He added that supporting Ukraine is a direct investment in Europe's security.
“Enhancing defense capability isn’t a political choice—it’s an urgent necessity; we [Europe] must act today to remain resilient in the future,” he said.
Earlier, EU Defense Commissioner Andrus Kubilius said part of the EU’s EUR800 billion ($902 billion) rearmament plan would be allocated to military support for Ukraine.