Support to Ukraine

Strengthening Ukraine defence capabilities

The EU’s strategic approach, as outlined in the White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030, identifies Ukraine as the frontline of European security. At the heart of this approach lies the "Porcupine Strategy" aimed to transform Ukraine into a robustly defended state capable of deterring further Russian aggression through increased EU and Member State military aid. As President von der Leyen stated, the objective is to “turning Ukraine into a steel porcupine that is indigestible for potential invaders.” 

By providing such military aid, EU member states have the opportunity to test and accelerate their own defence capabilities in real-time. To achieve this, the White Paper outlines three key lines of action, such as enhanced military support, Ukraine’s association into EU defence initiatives, and integrating its defence industry into European Defence Technological and Industrial base (EDTIB).  

Increasing financial support to Ukraine defence and deterrence

The EU has provided substantial financial backing to Ukraine’s war-torn economy through a combination of concessional loans, grants, and dedicated facilities. This support enables Ukraine to maintain public services, pay wages and pensions, and fund its defence efforts amidst the ongoing conflict.  

Key financial mechanisms include the €50 billion Ukraine Facility (2024-2027), which has mobilised over €36 billion for recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation. Additionally, an exceptional €18 billion macro-financial assistance package was allocated in 2023. 

Through the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), the EU has also launched a dedicated Ukraine Support Instrument (USI) allocating €300 million to modernise and integrate Ukraine’s defence industrial base. This funding supports joint production of ammunition and missiles, counter-drone systems, and supply chain enhancements. Specifically, €260 million has been earmarked for rebuilding Ukraine’s capacities through collaborative research and development, as well as procurement efforts involving Ukrainian firms, alongside EU Member States and Norway. 

In February 2026, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2026/467 establishing the Ukraine Support Loan (UASL). The Regulation provides for up to €90 billion in support to Ukraine. The support is structured around two complementary components: €60 billion assistance to strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities and defence industrial capacities, and €30 billion support to ensure the continued functioning of the state, maintain essential public services and strengthen economic resilience. 

Following Ukraine's submission of its Financing Strategy in March 2026, the Council adopted, on 23 April 2026, an Implementing Decision determining the assistance to be made available to Ukraine in 2026. The Decision provides for up to €45 billion in support for 2026, comprising €16.7 billion in budget support and €28.3 billion in support for Ukraine's defence industrial capacities. The budget support component is split equally between a top-up to the Ukraine Facility and a new Macro Financial Assistance operation, each amounting to up to €8.35 billion. The Commission disbursed the first €3.2 billion instalment to Ukraine under the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan Macro Financial Assistance on 25 June. 

The defence component focuses on the reconstruction, recovery and modernisation of Ukraine's defence technological and industrial base. It aims to strengthen Ukraine's defence industrial readiness and support its gradual integration into the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, through close cooperation between the Union and Ukraine. Under this defence window three disbursements have already taken place: €3.9 billion on 30 June,  €1.1 billion on 15 July and €3.47 billion on 30 July.

Funding decisions are based on Ukraine’s evolving needs. All expenditure is subject to agreed conditions and monitoring. 

Since the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU and its Member States have provided over €220 billion in overall support to Ukraine and Ukrainians, including €3.8 billion from the proceeds of immobilised Russian assets. 

EU-Ukraine Defence cooperation: forging a United Front

Ukraine’s unique battlefield experience in countering Russian aggression has yielded invaluable insights for EU defence, serving as a real-world proving ground for modern warfare tactics, drone warfare, and resilient supply chains. This frontline laboratory has refined Ukrainian innovations in AI-driven targeting, asymmetric defence strategies, such as the "Porcupine" approach, and rapid adaptation to hybrid threats. The EU White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 explicitly seeks to leverage these lessons through training programmes, joint procurement, and the integration of Ukraine’s defence industry into the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base.  

The EU has taken significant steps to advance Ukraine’s integration into the European Defence Fund (EDF) - €8.4 billion. The "Mini-Defence Omnibus" regulation (EU 2025/2653), adopted in late 2025, has enabled Ukrainian entities to participate on equal terms in collaborative research and development projects for disruptive defence technologies. This budget-neutral reform amends the EDF Work Programme for 2026, aligning with the ReArm Europe plan and STEP platform. 

By fostering cooperation and knowledge-sharing, the EU and Ukraine are forging a united front against common security challenges, enhancing the resilience and readiness of European defence. At the heart of this cooperation is the EU Defence Innovation Office (EUDIO) in Kyiv, bridging Ukrainian and EU defence industries, while the BraveTech EU initiative accelerates defence innovation by leveraging Ukraine’s battlefield-proven technologies. 

EU Space for Ukraine’s resilience and recovery

DG DEFIS is strengthening space cooperation with Ukraine to boost resilience and recovery efforts. In April 2025, the EU and Ukraine signed an agreement enabling Ukraine’s participation in key components of the EU Space Programme, including Copernicus (Earth observation), Space Weather Events (SWE), and Near-Earth Objects (NEO) monitoring. This agreement builds on previous frameworks and supports Ukraine’s recovery by improving access to vital space data for reconstruction planning, environmental monitoring, and protection of infrastructure from solar hazards.

To further enhance Ukraine’s resilience, DG DEFIS is working to provide future access to GOVSATCOM for secure governmental satellite communications and IRIS², the EU’s next-generation satellite constellation for secure connectivity. These programmes will enhance Ukraine’s ability to coordinate military operations, protect critical infrastructure, and maintain secure communications during the ongoing conflict and throughout the post-war recovery period. However, Ukraine’s access to GOVSATCOM and/or IRIS² is subject to a formal international agreement, which sets strict terms for third-country participation in sensitive governmental services. Following the Commission’s proposal in October 2025, negotiations were authorised by Council Decision (EU) 2026/587 on March 9, 2026. 

Entrepreneurship as a catalyst for Defence cooperation

The EUDIS Tech Alliance, launched in November 2025, fosters strategic partnerships between over 40 EU and Ukrainian defence firms, focusing on scaling drone and counter-drone technologies, industrial production, and rapid innovation informed by Ukraine’s frontline lessons. This alliance bridges the gap between startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), embedding battle-tested Ukrainian capabilities into the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) to enhance EU readiness. 

The CASSINI initiative, the EU’s space entrepreneurship programme, has actively engaged Ukraine through hackathons, rallying developers to create defence and security solutions using Copernicus and Galileo data. This has fostered startups that integrate Ukraine’s battlefield innovations into European markets. Complementing this, the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) has established a Kyiv office, which channels funding and partnerships for Ukrainian satcom and drone technologies, linking local innovators to EU programmes for resilient communications and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities essential to the "porcupine" strategy. 

The European Commission organises the 3^rd EU UA Defence industry forum in Kyiv on 13-14 July 2026.