Ukraine is getting another 1.24 billion euros from the European Union, this time for drones, drone interceptors, drone ammunition and missiles built by Ukrainian companies, the European Commission said.
The payment comes out of the defense side of the Ukraine Support Loan, a program worth up to 90 billion euros.
“Russia is continuing its deliberate strategy of terror – trying to make daily life unbearable for Ukrainians.”
The money, von der Leyen said, “will help strengthen Ukraine’s defence industry” along with the country’s ability to defend itself and “protect people and infrastructure.”
Under a rough split, 60 billion euros of the loan goes to defense and 30 billion euros to budget support over 2026 and 2027. This year alone, 28.3 billion euros is slated for Ukraine’s defense industry, and more defense payments are expected in the coming weeks.
The commission called support for Ukraine’s defense a key priority for the European Union. It said supplying drones, interceptors, ammunition, air defense and missiles helps Ukraine meet urgent battlefield needs and hold off Russia’s war of aggression.
Funding decisions are tied to Ukraine’s changing needs and carry agreed conditions and monitoring, the commission said.
Since 2022, the EU and its member states have provided 228.7 billion euros in total support to Ukraine, the commission said. That figure includes 3.8 billion euros drawn from proceeds of immobilized Russian assets.
That leaves Ukraine with 32.5 billion euros it can still draw on before the end of the year.
Most of it, 28.1 billion euros, sits in the Ukraine Support Loan: 15.4 billion euros for the defense industry and 12.7 billion euros for the budget. The other 4.4 billion euros is budget support still open under the earlier Ukraine Facility.
Taken together, more than 17 billion euros in budget support is available for 2026, the commission said. Those payments depend on Ukraine meeting the conditions set out in the Ukraine Plan and a memorandum of understanding.
The European Parliament and the Council created the Ukraine Support Loan in February through Regulation (EU) 2026/467, which provides for up to 90 billion euros for Ukraine.
The program has two parts. One strengthens Ukraine’s defense capabilities and defense industry. The other aims to keep the state running, maintain essential public services and shore up economic resilience.
After Ukraine submitted its financing strategy in March, the Council adopted an implementing decision on April 23 that set the assistance available to Ukraine this year.
The defense component is meant to rebuild and modernize Ukraine’s defense technology and industrial base while gradually integrating it into Europe’s, the commission said.
