EU Invests $2.3 Billion in Cutting-Edge Drones for Ukraine, Enhancing Combat Strength

Ahead of a European Council summit in Copenhagen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU’s commitment to invest €2 billion in drones for Ukraine, marking the bloc’s most significant step to enhance Kyiv’s battlefield capabilities with unmanned aerial systems, Politico reported on September 30.

“We have agreed with Ukraine that a total of $2.3 billion will be spent on drones now,” von der Leyen said, highlighting the move as an opportunity for both Ukraine and the EU to benefit from cutting-edge drone technology.

“This allows Ukraine to scale up and to use its full capacity and of course it will also allow the European Union to benefit from this technology,” she added.

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In addition to the drone commitment, von der Leyen proposed a “reparations loan” scheme using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s long-term recovery.

The loan, to be disbursed in tranches with conditions, would focus on military procurement from European industries, she clarified, emphasizing that no assets would be seized until Russia agrees to pay reparations after the war, according to Politico.

Von der Leyen’s announcement came as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte backed the EU’s drone initiative, underscoring the need for efficient defense measures. Rutte warned that spending millions on missiles to destroy drones worth a few thousand dollars was not a sustainable solution, particularly in light of recent aerial threats over Poland, Estonia, and Denmark.

The announcements set the stage for discussions at the upcoming informal summit, where EU leaders will focus on defense strategies and the NATO-EU Readiness Roadmap 2030, Politico writes.

Previously, it was reported that European Council President António Costa was pushing to advance Ukraine’s EU membership bid despite Hungary’s veto ahead of this week’s summit in Copenhagen, Politico reported.

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