Von der Leyen in Kyiv: defence and drone partnership with Ukraine
The Commission has disbursed one billion euros as part of the 90-billion-euro EU loan to Kyiv and has approved a 10-billion-euro plan to finance the Ukrainian government’s purchase of further drones, missiles and fighter aircraft
from our correspondent Beda Romano
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BRUSSELS – Capitalising on Ukraine’s undeniable expertise in the military field, the European Commission and the Ukrainian government announced a defence industry partnership yesterday. In particular, the parties aim to strengthen their collaboration in the production of drones. The initiative comes at a time when military cooperation between Kyiv and Brussels is intended both to bolster Ukraine in its war against Russia and to support the country’s integration into the European Union.
“Ukraine has – in many respects – gone from being a buyer to becoming a net provider of security for Europe,” explained European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday in Kyiv. “Our industrial partnership in the defence sector must serve to integrate Ukraine’s defence industry” into the European Union “in the same way that we integrate our markets: by removing barriers and aligning our standards as quickly as possible.”
The aim is to jointly promote the production of drones and anti-drone systems. At the same time, Brussels and Kyiv wish to collaborate on anti-ballistic missiles and air defence. The first results are expected as early as 2026–2028. “This agreement will combine Ukrainian ingenuity with Europe’s industrial capabilities,” explained Ms von der Leyen in her speech in Kyiv. “Our message is clear: now is the time to invest in Ukraine.”
The agreement on drones will effectively create a community of Ukrainian and European companies – 19 in total, including Fincantieri. Speaking to *Il Sole 24 Ore* last February in Kyiv, Andrii Hrytsenyuk, director of Brave 1, a government consortium dedicated to defence technologies, explained that in 2022 Ukraine had just seven drone manufacturers. Today there are more than 500. Ukraine’s expertise in this field has enabled Kyiv to sign nine joint ventures around the world to date.
Still on the subject of drones, the European Commission yesterday released one billion euros as part of the 90-billion-euro EU loan to Kyiv for the period 2026–2027. The money will be used to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles. In the same vein, the European Commission has also approved a €10 billion plan to finance the Ukrainian government’s purchase of additional drones, missiles and fighter aircraft.
