On Friday, September 18, 2026, the European Union allocated €3.3 billion to Ukraine for the purchase of missiles, ammunition, and unmanned aerial vehicles for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This was announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to RBC-Ukraine, citing the EC's press service. In addition to the one-off defense package, Brussels announced the launch of a new program of joint defense projects with Ukraine, which is set to become the foundation for long-term industrial and technological cooperation in the security sector.
New Defense Package and the SAFE Program
According to von der Leyen, the €3.3 billion in funds is directed specifically toward the purchase of missiles, ammunition, and drones that are critically needed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces amid daily Russian shelling. In parallel, the European Union is using the remaining funds from the SAFE program to launch a new program of joint defense projects with Ukraine. "This will allow us to combine Ukraine's combat experience and innovations with Europe's technological and industrial potential," the European Commission President emphasized, pointing to the mutual complementarity of the two sides in the defense sector.
The Freya System and European Air Defense
The main goal of the new cooperation, von der Leyen said, is the creation of a European air and missile defense system. The foundation of this system will be the common ballistic missile defense system Freya. Thus, the allocation of funds and the launch of the joint program go beyond one-off aid and lay the infrastructure for integrating Ukrainian developments into a pan-European air defense architecture.
Call with Zelenskyy, Reforms, and the UN
During a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the European Commission President also discussed the reforms that the Verkhovna Rada is set to approve. According to the EC's assessment, these steps are necessary to unlock further funding and Ukraine's Eurointegration. Von der Leyen expressed solidarity with the residents of Kyiv and all regions of Ukraine suffering from daily Russian shelling, and stated that she would take part next week in the session of the UN General Assembly in New York, where she would issue a call to allies: "My message to Ukraine's friends around the world will be simple: Europe is stepping up its efforts. Now others must intensify their support as well."
Context: Patriot Systems from Germany and Poland
The EU's decision to allocate €3.3 billion fits into a broader context of strengthened air defense support for Ukraine by individual countries. Germany, for instance, is preparing to transfer to Ukraine a batch of 10 MIM-104E GEM-T interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system, worth a total of $29.6 million, which Berlin had previously received from the United States. Poland, in turn, plans to transfer air defense missiles for Patriot to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package worth €50 million.
Contradictory Data
Publications by different outlets show a slight discrepancy in wording regarding the timing of the funds transfer. A number of sources (including RBC-Ukraine and Interfax) describe the event as the allocation/transfer of €3.3 billion scheduled for Friday, September 18, i.e., as a decision taking effect on the day of the announcement. Other outlets (for example, delo.ua) already use the past tense and report that Ukraine "received" €3.3 billion from the EU. Given the current date of September 19, 2026, both versions are essentially consistent in meaning: the allocation decision was made on September 18, and the actual receipt of the funds is confirmed by subsequent publications. No significant discrepancies in the figures (€3.3 billion, $29.6 million for Germany, €50 million for Poland) have been recorded between sources.
