Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an agreement with Ukraine to provide 2 billion euros for drones. She also suggested a reparations loan funded by frozen Russian sovereign assets.
Ursula von der Leyen stated at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the funding aims to enhance defensive capabilities and foster the development of advanced technologies. “A total € 2 billion will be spent on drones now,” von der Leyen said.
She mentioned that the funding aims to support Ukraine in enhancing its defence capabilities while also fostering the development of advanced technologies beneficial for the European Union.
How will €2 billion in drones strengthen Ukraine’s defence?
The President of the European Commission highlighted the strategic importance of defence aid and support for executing the “Eastern Flank” initiative, which seeks to establish a “drone station” to protect the EU’s external borders and enhance the Union’s defence capabilities.
She also observed that in the past 1,000 days, Russia has achieved notable progress on the battlefield, but maintaining control over certain parts of the occupied territories continues to be difficult.
Von der Leyen outlined the EU’s upcoming defence initiatives, primarily through the SAFE instruments and the revised White Paper on Defence. Leaders will review future plans at the upcoming informal EU summit in Copenhagen.
How much total aid has europe mobilised for Ukraine?
Beginning with the war in Ukraine in February 2022, the EU and its member states—commonly called Team Europe—have mobilised around €150 billion in fast-tracked financial, military, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. This includes macro-financial assistance, humanitarian aid, and military assistance via a series of EU mechanisms, including the European Peace Facility.
In total, for military support, the EU has delivered over $65 billion in support, including ammunition, air-defence systems, Leopard tanks, and fighter jets. This includes a dedicated Ukraine Assistance Fund valued at $5.4 billion, which was created in March 2024. The EU has been the primary provider of military training to Ukrainian forces, training nearly 80,000 personnel and committing $390 million specifically to training missions.
