Ukraine has gained access to EU programs for the development of the defense industry
Ukraine and the European Union have signed two agreements that open the door for Ukrainian defense companies to participate in European programs and receive funding.
The documents provide for support for Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex, including the allocation of approximately 300 million euros for the development of joint projects and the strengthening of production capabilities.
On the Ukrainian side, the agreements were signed by Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov; on the EU side, by European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius.
The first document concerns Ukraine’s accession to the European Defense Fund (EDF). The EDF is a key European Union program for supporting research and development in the defense sector. More than 1 billion euros are earmarked for it in 2026.
After joining the EDF, Ukrainian state-owned and private defense companies will be able to participate in joint R&D projects with European partners and secure grant funding to develop new defense solutions.
The second document is the Financing Agreement under the European Defense Industry Program (EDIP). This European Union program for 2026–2027 aims to strengthen the European defense industry. Its total budget amounts to 1.5 billion euros in grant funding.
A separate instrument has been created for Ukraine within the EDIP—the BraveTech EU Ukraine Support Instrument (USI). The goal of the USI is to restore and develop Ukraine’s defense industrial base, as well as to involve Ukrainian companies in joint European projects.
The USI allocates approximately 300 million euros to support Ukraine’s defense industry. Of this amount, 260 million euros is earmarked for measures to increase production capacity; 35.3 million euros is allocated for innovation under BraveTech EU, a joint initiative between Ukraine and the EU to create game-changers in the defense sector.
Funding may cover up to 100% of the costs incurred by Ukrainian participants.
The agreements will take effect after ratification by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
This was reported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Defense has certified more than 400 new drones in the past six months.
As a reminder, seven people were killed as a result of a massive strike on Kyiv.
Earlier, Zelenskyy warned that Russia was preparing a new massive strike.
It should also be recalled that the Russians last launched a massive attack on Ukraine on the night of July 2. At that time, Russian forces launched 496 UAVs of various types and 74 missiles—air-, ground-, and sea-based—of various types at Ukraine.
