EC pays out 3.3 billion euro in defence funding to Ukraine to cover drones and missiles
The European Commission (EC) will today disburse 3.3 billion euro to Ukraine for defence procurement under the 90 billion euro Ukraine Support Loan, the EC said on September 18.
The payment covers drones and missiles and will help Ukraine defend its territory and skies against Russia’s ongoing aggression, the EC said.
EC President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Today, we will disburse 3.3 billion euro to help procure drones and missiles under the Ukraine Support Loan. Europe will continue to deliver the support Ukraine needs to defend its people and its territory.”
This is the fourth payment made to Ukraine under the Ukraine Support Loan’s defence window.
With this disbursement, the Commission will have paid nearly 15 billion euro to Ukraine this year, covering both defence and broader support. The Ukraine Support Loan includes 30 billion euro for budgetary aid and 60 billion euro for defence across 2026-2027.
Ukraine’s military edge depends on the rapid availability of critical products in the required quantities and within very short timeframes, the EC said.
Accelerating EU deliveries through destocking, reprioritising orders and ramping up the production remains crucial, it said.
As announced by Von der Leyen in the State of the Union speech and yesterday’s call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Commission is ready to use remaining funds from the Security Action for Europe instrument to launch a new joint EU-Ukraine programme.
The initiative would develop a European air and missile defence system, building on the existing Freya anti-ballistic system. It would combine Ukraine’s battlefield experience with Europe’s industrial and technological strength.
The EC said that further payments will follow in line with the rules set out in the Ukraine Support Loan Regulation.
Next week, Von der Leyen will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where she will call for increased support for Ukraine, conveying the message that: “Europe is stepping up. Now others must step up their support too.”
(Photo: EC Audiovisual Service)
