EU pledges €28bn military aid to Ukraine this year, vows full drone integration
The European Union has pledged to provide Ukraine with €28.3 billion in military aid in 2026 and fully integrate the country into European drone manufacturing projects, as Brussels reaffirms its commitment to Kyiv amid ongoing tensions with Moscow.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the package in a social media post following a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"Air defense and drone and counter-drone capabilities are among Europe’s most urgent defense priorities. And Ukraine will be fully integrated into these efforts," von der Leyen wrote on X.
"This year alone, it will provide €28.3 billion to help cover Ukraine’s military needs," she added, referring to a larger €90 billion EU funding package for Kyiv.
Von der Leyen also discussed Ukraine's path toward EU membership with Zelenskyy.
"The coming weeks will be important to take decisive steps forward in the accession process," she said.
The EU's reaffirmation of military support comes as Moscow seeks to advance a peace process initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump last year.
Media reports have pointed to divisions within the West over how to approach the conflict.
French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted that Brussels should engage directly with Moscow.
"It is in our interest as Europeans and Ukrainians to re-engage discussions," Macron said, adding that talks should begin "in the coming weeks."
Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in 2022, citing NATO's eastward expansion as a threat to its western borders.
The conflict has since drawn billions of dollars in Western military and economic aid to Kyiv, with the EU positioning itself as a key supporter of Ukraine's defense and eventual integration into European structures.
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