€3.3 billion for missiles and drones: EU will allocate new funding to Ukraine
The remaining SAFE funds will be directed to joint defense projects
European Union on September 18 is to provide Ukraine an additional €3.3 billion to purchase missiles and drones. This was stated on September 17 after a phone call with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
In addition, the EU plans to direct unused funds from the SAFE mechanism to a joint defence projects programme with Ukraine. One of these is to be the development of a European air and missile defence system based on the Freya system.
The statement following the talks explained the purpose of such a partnership:
“This will allow us to combine the combat experience and innovations of Ukraine with the technological and industrial potential of Europe.”
Ursula von der Leyen also noted that last week the European Union approved financing for Patriot systems for Ukraine as part of loan support. According to her, during this year the Union has already mobilized nearly €15 billion for the country.
A separate topic of the talks was the reforms that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine must carry out. Their implementation is necessary for further funding and the continuation of the country’s European integration.
The European Commission also approved directing €6.1 billion from the loan for Ukraine to purchase drones and missiles for Patriot air defence systems.
Earlier we wrote:
- Germany will transfer additional missiles to Ukraine for air defence
- Fedorov proposed to the US an exchange: “an army of drones” in return for Patriot missiles for Ukraine
- Amid a missile shortage, Ukraine receives €4 billion and 36 IRIS‑T from Berlin
- EU to invest €800 billion in defence and aid to Ukraine, – Ursula
- Record aid to Ukraine: weapons, billions of euros and additional sanctions against Russia
