European Commission disburses €3.3 billion to Ukraine for drone and missile procurement

The payment will help Ukraine defend its territory and skies against Russia's ongoing aggression, the statement noted.

This is the fourth tranche of the €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine. With this disbursement, the Commission will have paid nearly €15 billion to Ukraine this year, covering both defense and broader support.

The EU loan program for Ukraine includes €30 billion for budgetary aid and €60 billion for defense in 2026-2027.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already issued a statement regarding this matter.

“Today, we are already seeing the results of yesterday's conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: a tranche of €3.3 billion from the EU financial support package has effectively been received,” Zelenskyy wrote. “These funds will primarily be used to bolster our defense, specifically with missiles and drones. We are also making concrete preparations for a meeting and discussion in New York regarding Ukraine's financial stability – something else we agreed upon yesterday. Thank you, Ursula.”

Following a phone call with Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU plans to use remaining funds from its Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program to launch joint defense projects with Ukraine.

Von der Leyen said the cooperation would combine Ukraine’s battlefield experience and innovative development with the technological and industrial capabilities of European countries. One key area will be the development of a European air and missile defense system. Its foundation is expected to be the joint Freyja system for countering ballistic missiles.

The Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative is a landmark €150 billion European Union financial instrument. It provides long-term loans to member states to strengthen the continent's defense industrial capacity and accelerate the joint procurement of military equipment.