Overview
- The European Commission disbursed €3.3 billion to Ukraine on Friday, September 18, under the Ukraine Support Loan to fund purchases of missiles, drones and other defence materiel.
- This is the fourth defence-window payment and brings Commission disbursements for Ukraine to nearly €15 billion so far this year.
- Brussels proposed using remaining SAFE (Security Action for Europe) funds to launch joint EU–Ukraine defence projects that would develop a European air and missile defence system built on the Freya anti‑ballistic framework.
- The Commission approved Patriot-related funding last week but said it cannot pay for Patriot interceptor missiles until Ukraine submits signed procurement contracts and the Commission completes its contract review.
- Ukrainian officials reported renewed Russian missile and drone strikes that injured civilians, a reality that supporters say makes rapid deliveries urgent while also raising the risk of further escalation and shaping talks planned at the UN General Assembly.