EU, further 3.47 billion for drones and missiles for Ukraine

Brussels – The green light has been given for €3.47 billion to Ukraine for drones, missiles, air defence, and fighter aircraft.  The funding comes from the European Commission and forms part of the defence component of the €90 billion guaranteed to Kyiv. The contribution, explains the EU executive, has been provided “in response to the urgent military needs of Ukraine, which continues to require support for its defence capabilities” during the war with Russia. In particular, it will cover a portion of the first drone supply programme, including funding for additional equipment “such as long-range jet aircraft, missiles, and Gripen fighter jets.” 

The granting of the loans is in addition to the payment of €3.9 billion as at 30 June, and the second tranche of €1.1 billion in mid-July. In total, with this third instalment, the total amount disbursed to date (30 July) by the European Commission to Kyiv under the €90 billion programme rises to approximately €8.5 billion. Added to this are the €3.2 billion disbursed through the macro-financial assistance programme. 

According to the Commission, this new contribution will ensure that Ukraine has “faster access to equipment that can help protect its airspace and strengthen its defence capabilities.” Not only that, but “we are also bringing our defence industries closer together, combining European industrial scale with Ukraine’s unrivalled capacity for innovation,” emphasised the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. 

The Berlaymont Building has also announced that further funding for drones, ammunition, air defence systems, and missiles will be approved and disbursed in the coming weeks. “Together with our Ukrainian partners, we are continuing to act swiftly to disburse the €28.3 billion available for 2026,” said the European Commissioner for Defence, Andrius Kubilius. This allocation is expected to be finalised by the end of September, with actual disbursements taking place by the end of the year. 

Good news for Ukraine has also come from the EU Council. A decision was taken today to amend the Ukraine Facility and the associated Ukraine Plan. These amendments will provide a further €8.3 billion for 2026. Today’s amendments also provide for “further reform measures” relating to the rule of law and the fight against corruption, ensuring that the country receives the funds. 

The Ukraine Facility is a European Union initiative providing up to €50 billion in loans and grants to support the country’s recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation for the 2024–2027 period. Presented in March 2024 by the Ukrainian government, the “Plan for Ukraine” sets out the preconditions for receiving funding and includes Ukraine’s vision for recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation, as well as the reforms envisaged as part of the country’s accession process to the EU. Since it came into force, the Ukraine Facility has already disbursed €6 billion through short-term loans, of which €1.89 billion was in pre-financing and a further seven instalments totalling approximately €21.6 billion.