The European Commission confirmed on Friday that Canada has formally expressed interest in joining the European Union's €90 billion support loan for Ukraine, a move that would expand the financing pool and allow Kyiv to procure weapons from Canadian manufacturers.
"I can confirm that Canada has expressed an interest in joining the €90 billion Ukraine support loan," a Commission spokesperson told journalists in Brussels. "We are working hard with Canada, and the respective technical talks are very much ongoing."
The loan, agreed by EU leaders last year, is designed to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's financial and military needs for 2026 and 2027, with the remaining third expected to come from other Western allies. So far, Brussels has disbursed nearly €15 billion, with further instalments expected in the coming months.
How the loan works
The €90 billion is raised through joint borrowing on capital markets, generating roughly €3 billion in annual interest payments. These costs are shared proportionally among 24 EU member states, after Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic secured opt-outs from the scheme.
If Canada joins, it would become the second non-EU country to participate, following the United Kingdom, which signed up in July. Ottawa's contribution would be tied to the value of contracts awarded to Canadian defence companies, and it would cover a corresponding share of the annual interest.
"The more countries involved, the better. That can ensure that Ukraine can get the best and most suitable equipment for its defence needs," the spokesperson added.
The exact size of Canada's financial commitment is still under negotiation, but the inclusion would allow Ukraine to bypass the "Made in Europe" requirements that currently restrict how the loan funds can be spent. That means Kyiv could buy artillery, ammunition, and other military hardware directly from Canadian producers, broadening its supply options at a critical moment in the war.
Brussels is also trying to pin down the full scope of Ukraine's additional needs and has urged other partners to step up. Norway recently announced a $9 billion package for 2027, and the Commission said it regularly raises the issue with like-minded allies.
"It's important indeed that our like-minded partners also follow suit, including Canada and the UK," the spokesperson said. "That is a subject that we usually tend to take up with them regularly."
The development comes as Canada and the EU deepen their strategic partnership, with Ottawa recently gaining a closer association with Brussels in areas such as trade and security. The loan participation would mark a concrete step in that relationship, though it is separate from the broader associate status discussions.
For Ukraine, the ability to source weapons from Canada could prove significant, as its forces face continued Russian pressure along the front lines and Moscow's tightened domestic control shows no sign of easing. The EU's loan programme is seen as a vital pillar of Western support, and expanding it to include Ottawa would send a signal of unity among Kyiv's backers.
