Brussels, 18 Sept. (LaPresse) – The European Commission is providing 3.3 billion euros to Ukraine for defence, as part of the 90 billion euro support loan to Ukraine. The payment covers the supply of drones and missiles and will help defend Ukraine’s territory and airspace against Russian aggression. “Today we are disbursing €3.3 billion to help fund the purchase of drones and missiles as part of the support loan for Ukraine. Europe will continue to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to defend its people and its territory,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This is the fourth payment made to Ukraine under the ‘defence’ component of the support loan for Ukraine. With this disbursement, the Commission will have paid Ukraine almost €15 billion this year, earmarked for both defence and broader forms of support. The support loan to Ukraine provides for €30 billion in budgetary aid and €60 billion for defence over the period 2026–2027. As announced by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address and during yesterday’s telephone call with President Zelensky, the Commission is ready to use the remaining funds from the Security Action for Europe instrument to launch a new joint EU–Ukraine programme. The initiative would lead to the development of a European air and missile defence system, building on the existing Freya anti-ballistic missile system. This would combine Ukraine’s battlefield experience with Europe’s industrial and technological strength. Next week, von der Leyen will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where she will call for greater support for Ukraine, conveying the message that: “Europe is stepping up its commitment. Now others must step up their support too.”
Ukraine: EU provides 3.3 billion for Kyiv’s defence
Brussels, 18 Sept. (LaPresse) – The European Commission is providing 3.3 billion euros to Ukraine for defence, as part of the 90 billion euro support loan to Ukraine. The payment covers the supply of drones and missiles and will help defend Ukraine’s territory and airspace against Russian aggression. “Today we are disbursing €3.3 billion to help fund the purchase of drones and missiles as part of the support loan for Ukraine. Europe will continue to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to defend its people and its territory,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This is the fourth payment made to Ukraine under the ‘defence’ component of the support loan for Ukraine. With this disbursement, the Commission will have paid Ukraine almost €15 billion this year, earmarked for both defence and broader forms of support. The support loan to Ukraine provides for €30 billion in budgetary aid and €60 billion for defence over the period 2026–2027. As announced by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address and during yesterday’s telephone call with President Zelensky, the Commission is ready to use the remaining funds from the Security Action for Europe instrument to launch a new joint EU–Ukraine programme. The initiative would lead to the development of a European air and missile defence system, building on the existing Freya anti-ballistic missile system. This would combine Ukraine’s battlefield experience with Europe’s industrial and technological strength. Next week, von der Leyen will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where she will call for greater support for Ukraine, conveying the message that: “Europe is stepping up its commitment. Now others must step up their support too.”