Ukraine and the European Union are working to channel funds more quickly to the Defence Forces' critical needs.

This was discussed during a telephone conversation between Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Yevhenii Khmara and European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence reported.

Yevhenii Khmara thanked the European Union for the latest €3.3 billion tranche under the Ukraine Support Loan. The funds are to go towards defence procurement, in particular drones and assets to protect Ukraine’s skies.

“Speed is critical here. The faster decisions are taken and funds arrive, the faster the assets we need reach the battlefield and strengthen our troops’ capabilities,” Yevhenii Khmara stressed.

The two sides separately discussed closing the shortfall in Ukraine’s 2026 defence budget and financing the Defence Forces’ needs in 2027.

The European Commission transferred the €3.3 billion to Ukraine on 18 September. This is the fourth payment under the defence component of the Ukraine Support Loan. The programme as a whole provides for up to €90 billion in support for Ukraine, of which €60 billion is to go towards defence in 2026 and 2027. According to the Commission, the current tranche is intended for the purchase of drones and missiles.

Brussels separately stresses that delivery timelines remain critical for Ukraine: the weapons needed must arrive in the required quantities and within short timeframes. Among the ways to speed this up, the EU names transfers from existing stocks, reprioritising orders and scaling up production.

The need for additional funding remains substantial. In early September, Yevhenii Khmara said Ukraine needs to raise around another USD 27 billion for critical defence needs, including drones and air defence assets.