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 January 2026, the European Commission adopted a €90 billion financial support package for Ukraine for 2026-2027. The packages include a substantial loan, underpinned by the EU budget “headroom”, with funds allocated to bolster Ukraine’s defence industrial capabilities and provide critical budgetary support.  

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 Kiyv on 1-2 July 2026.