The European Union will provide a new payment of €3.3 billion to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the funds would be used to procure missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
€3.3 billion to be transferred to Ukraine
Von der Leyen announced that the European Union would transfer €3.3 billion to Ukraine on September 18.
The funds will be used to support Ukraine’s procurement of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Payment made under €90 billion program
The new financing is being provided under the European Union’s €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan established for 2026 and 2027.
The program covers both Ukraine’s budgetary needs and the strengthening of its defense capabilities.
In 2026, the EU allocated billions of euros under the program’s defense component for Ukraine’s defense industry and military procurement.
Phone call with Zelenskyy
Von der Leyen made the announcement after her phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy described the call as “very productive” and said the two sides discussed strengthening Ukraine’s defense resilience and financing.
Air defense remains on the EU agenda
The European Commission has also recently increased financing to strengthen Ukraine’s air and missile defense capabilities.
In September, the Commission approved an additional €6.1 billion in defense financing for the procurement of air and missile defense systems, ammunition, unmanned aerial vehicles and electronic warfare equipment.
The EU is also working with Ukraine to develop a more affordable and modular European missile defense system.
