The European Commission said Wednesday it disbursed €2.86 billion to Ukraine for drones, air defence systems, missiles and other urgent battlefield needs under a €90 billion support loan.
The money comes from the defence part of the Ukraine Support Loan. It will pay for drones, air defence systems, missiles, radars, electronic warfare systems and ammunition.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia is stalling on the frontlines while stepping up aerial attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.
“Europe’s steadfast support matters more than ever to help Ukraine protect its skies and save lives.”
Von der Leyen said the payment keeps addressing Ukraine’s most urgent operational needs, including drones and missiles for its defence.
Henna Virkkunen, executive vice-president for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said “Europe must act with determination and speed” as Russia’s war continues. She called the €2.86 billion proof of Europe’s commitment to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s aggression.
Andrius Kubilius, commissioner for Defence and Space, called the payment one more disbursement from the loan for Ukraine’s defence and said the loan is proving to be an effective mechanism to strengthen the country’s defence. “’Peace through strength’ will be implemented by ramping up strength on Ukraine’s side,” he said.
This loan has a suggested allocation of €60 billion towards defence and €30 billion towards budget support for 2026 and 2027. In 2026 alone, €28.3 billion is planned to support Ukraine’s defence industrial capacity, and the Commission said further payments under the 2026 defence leg will continue in the coming weeks.
As Ukraine prepares for its fourth winter since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Commission said urgent delivery of the equipment will help its forces protect civilians and cities from Russian attacks.
All funding decisions respond to Ukraine’s evolving needs and are subject to agreed conditions and monitoring, according to the Commission. Since 2022, the EU and its member states have provided €231.5 billion in overall support to Ukraine, including €3.8 billion from proceeds of immobilised Russian assets.
For the rest of 2026, Ukraine still has €29.64 billion available. That total includes €25.24 billion under the Ukraine Support Loan — €12.54 billion for defence industrial capacity and €12.7 billion in budget support — plus €4.4 billion in budget support under the initial Ukraine Facility. The amount of budget support available until the end of the year exceeds €17 billion, conditional on the terms set out in the Ukraine Plan and Memorandum of Understanding.
The European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2026/467 in February 2026, establishing the loan of up to €90 billion. Its two parts support Ukraine’s defence capabilities and defence industrial capacities, and the continued functioning of the state, essential public services and economic resilience.
In March 2026, after the submission of its Financing Strategy, the Council issued an Implementing Decision on April 23, 2026, which determined the level of aid to Ukraine for 2026. The defence part focuses on rebuilding and modernising Ukraine’s defence technological and industrial base and supporting its gradual integration into the European base.
