BRUSSELS — The European Commission has disbursed €3.47 billion to Ukraine under the defence window of the European Union's €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan, providing funding for Gripen fighter jets, missiles, air-defence systems and advanced drone technology.
The payment, made on July 30, 2026, is intended to accelerate Ukraine's access to military equipment as the country continues its defence against Russia. According to the European Commission, the latest tranche includes funding under the first procurement schedule for drones and will also support the acquisition of long-range jet-powered drones, missiles, air-defence equipment and Gripen fighter jets.
The Commission said additional financing for drones, ammunition, missiles and air-defence systems is expected to be approved and released in the coming weeks.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the latest funding is aimed at strengthening Ukraine's air defence while expanding defence cooperation between Ukraine and European industry.
"Today, we are investing an additional €3.47 billion to help protect Ukraine's skies. With this new disbursement under our €90 billion loan package, we are helping Ukraine defend its people. We are also bringing our defence industries closer together, combining Europe's industrial scale with Ukraine's unmatched innovation. This is our new Drone Deal taking shape."
The European Commission said the funding supports both Ukraine's immediate defence requirements and deeper industrial cooperation between Ukraine and Europe through the emerging "Drone Deal," which combines European manufacturing capacity with Ukrainian defence innovation.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi confirmed the transfer and said the overall €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan is expected to cover around two-thirds of Ukraine's total financial needs during 2026 and 2027.
Structure of the €90 Billion Ukraine Support Loan
The European Union's Ukraine Support Loan is divided into two main components.
- €60 billion is allocated to strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities and expand its domestic defence industrial capacity.
- €30 billion is designated for state budget support, helping Ukraine maintain essential public services and strengthen economic resilience.
According to a Council decision adopted on April 23, 2026, up to €45 billion was made available to Ukraine for 2026. This includes €28.3 billion for defence industrial capacity and €16.7 billion for budget support.
The budget support portion is divided equally between additional financing for the Ukraine Facility and a new Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) operation, each capable of providing up to €8.35 billion.
Latest in a Series of EU Payments
The €3.47 billion transfer follows several recent EU disbursements to Ukraine.
On June 25, the European Commission released €3.2 billion through its Macro-Financial Assistance programme to support Ukraine's state budget.
This was followed by €3.9 billion under the defence window on June 30, and another €1.1 billion on July 15.
With the latest payment, recent defence disbursements under the programme now total €8.47 billion.
The European Union plans to provide €28.3 billion during 2026 to strengthen Ukraine's defence industrial capacity. The allocation is expected to be finalised by September, with additional payments scheduled to continue through the end of the year.
Additional Financing Expected
On July 30, the Council of the European Union also approved updates to the Ukraine Plan, a framework covering administrative and anti-corruption reforms linked to Ukraine's prospective European Union membership.
The approval clears the way for an additional €8.3 billion in future financing.
The European Commission said further funding for ammunition, drones, missiles and air-defence systems is expected to be approved in the coming weeks.
According to the Commission, the European Union and its member states have provided more than €220 billion in overall support to Ukraine and Ukrainians since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. This figure includes €3.8 billion generated from proceeds linked to immobilised Russian assets.
The Commission said the Ukraine Support Loan is financed through EU borrowing on the capital markets and backed by the EU budget. The loan is structured to be repaid from future Russian reparations to Ukraine. Funding is subject to conditions, including adherence to the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts. Defence products financed under the programme are expected, in principle, to be sourced from the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA), EFTA countries and Ukraine, with limited exceptions for urgent operational requirements.
——— End of Article ———
