On 18 September, the European Commission disbursed €3.3 billion to Ukraine for defence procurement under the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. The payment covers drones and missiles and will help Ukraine defend its territory and skies against Russia’s ongoing aggression.
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 to Ukraine this year, covering both defence and broader support. The Ukraine Support Loan includes €30 billion for budgetary aid and €60 billion 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. Accelerating EU deliveries through destocking, reprioritising orders and ramping up the production remains crucial.
As announced by President von der Leyen in the State of the Union speech and yesterday’s call with President 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.
Next steps
Further payments will follow in line with the rules set out in the Ukraine Support Loan Regulation.
Next week, President 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.”
Background
Today’s disbursement follows the Commission decision on 11 September to approve €6.1 billion for Ukraine’s air and missiles defence and other defence needs, including PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems. In February 2026, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2026/467, establishing the Ukraine Support Loan, providing up to €90 billion in support to Ukraine. This support has two complementary components: strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities and defence industrial capacities, and support to maintain essential state functions, public services and economic resilience.
Following Ukraine’s submission of its Financing Strategy in March 2026, the Council adopted an implementing decision on 23 April 2026, allocating up to €45 billion for 2026. This includes €16.7 billion in budget support, split equally between the Ukraine Facility and Macro Financial Assistance, with each amounting to up to €8.35 billion, and €28.3 billion for defence industrial capacities.
The defence component focuses on reconstructing and modernising Ukraine’s defence technological and industrial base, while supporting its gradual integration into the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base.
All funding decisions respond to Ukraine’s evolving needs and are subject to agreed conditions and monitoring. Since 2022, the EU and its Member States have provided €224.5 billion in overall support to Ukraine, including €3.8 billion from the proceeds of immobilised Russian assets.
For more information
Today, we will disburse €3.3 billion 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.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Europe stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s illegal war of aggression. This new payment will deliver critical defence capabilities, including drones and missiles. We will continue to work closely with Ukraine and help it defend its sovereignty and protect its people.
Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space
