EU to transfer €3.3 billion to Ukraine for missiles and drones — Anadolu Agency
The European Union will transfer another €3.3 billion to Ukraine on Friday for missiles and drones. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Anadolu Agency reports.
Funds for defense
According to von der Leyen, the payment is part of €28.3 billion allocated for Ukraine’s defense this year under the Ukraine Support Loan. She noted that the payment will take place amid continued Russian strikes on Kyiv.
Russia, the aggressor state, is relentlessly attacking the Ukrainian capital and trying to make the daily lives of its residents impossible, according to the European Commission president. Von der Leyen stressed that the EU supports Kyiv residents and all Ukrainians.
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Patriot and joint projects
Last week, the EU approved funding for Patriot systems under the same loan mechanism. This also opened an opportunity for Ukraine to purchase U.S. Patriot interceptor missiles, which are used against ballistic missiles.
Von der Leyen said that Brussels is ready to use the remaining funds of SAFE — Security Action for Europe, an EU defense financing instrument for member states’ investments and joint procurements. These funds are planned to be directed toward launching a new program of joint EU-Ukraine defense projects.
According to her, the parties want to jointly develop a European air and missile defense system based on the joint Freya anti-ballistic system. The project is expected to combine Ukraine’s combat experience and innovations with Europe’s technological and industrial capabilities.
