European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during a visit to Kyiv on 16 July 2026, announced a new €1 billion disbursement for drones to help protect Ukrainian skies, alongside the launch of an EU-Ukraine defence partnership centred on a 'Drone Deal' involving joint ventures, technology transfers and investment in dual-use sectors. She also highlighted the opening of a second accession cluster, on External Relations, weeks after the first cluster on Fundamentals was opened in June, and pledged continued support for Ukraine's energy system ahead of winter.
Von der Leyen, who received the Order of Europe during the visit, said the defence partnership aims to combine Ukrainian battlefield-tested ingenuity with EU industrial capacity to produce next-generation drones, counter-drone systems, and eventually missiles and air defence systems at speed and scale. She noted that the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan is now fully operational, with over a third earmarked for defence products this year, and that a €10 billion disbursement plan for drones, missiles and fighter aircraft has been approved. The first military assistance package, focused solely on drones, was disbursed on 30 June, which she described as the largest drone support package globally.
On accession, von der Leyen welcomed the opening of Cluster 6 on External Relations, calling it a 'historic breakthrough' following the opening of the first cluster on Fundamentals in June. She stressed that Ukraine's reform effort must continue across the board to enable further cluster openings. Regarding winter preparations, she said the EU has invested over €4 billion for winterisation and energy since the start of the full-scale invasion, including €920 million for 2026 alone, and pledged to keep lights and heat on in Ukrainian homes during the coming winter.
The visit underscores the EU's sustained political and financial commitment to Ukraine amid intensified Russian air attacks on Kyiv and other cities. The new defence partnership and drone deal signal a deeper integration of defence industries, with plans to remove barriers and align standards in procurement and intellectual property protection. The announcement builds on previous EU support packages and marks a concrete step in operationalising the €90 billion loan for defence procurement.
Ukrainian defence forces will benefit from accelerated delivery of drones and other equipment, enhancing their ability to counter Russian attacks. EU defence industries gain access to Ukrainian innovation and battlefield testing, potentially boosting competitiveness and production scale. Ukrainian energy consumers face a more secure winter with continued EU funding for repairs and infrastructure strengthening. EU taxpayers bear the cost of the €90 billion loan and additional disbursements, though the funds are drawn from frozen Russian assets and EU budget contributions.