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EU to Deliver First €6 Billion Defense Package to Ukraine Under €90 Billion Support Plan
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Ukraine is set to receive its first €6 billion (around $7 billion) defense package from the European Union in the current quarter, with the funds earmarked primarily for drone procurement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Speaking at a plenary session of the European Parliament on April 29, von der Leyen stated that the funding forms part of a broader €90 billion (about $105 billion) EU loan program for Ukraine.
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According to her, roughly one-third of the total package will be allocated to cover Ukraine’s budgetary needs, while the remaining funds will support defense.
She underlined that the EU is fulfilling its commitments to provide macro-financial assistance and added that a larger tranche of €45 billion (nearly $53 billion) for 2026 is expected to be disbursed before the end of the current quarter.
“While Russia doubles down its aggression, Europe doubles down our support for Ukraine,” she said.
The European Union was expected to approve a €90 billion loan for Ukraine, with a decision anticipated as early as April 22. A spokesperson for the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU confirmed that the proposal to amend the bloc’s Multiannual Financial Framework had been formally placed on the agenda of the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper II).
According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the amendment represents the final technical step required to activate the funding mechanism designed to support Ukraine.
The proposal has been classified as an “I-item,” meaning it is not expected to require further debate, typically signaling that member states have already reached preliminary agreement on the measure.
At the same time, Ukraine has accused Russia of staging so-called “anti-war” protests in Cyprus to interfere with discussions among European leaders on continued financial and military support for Kyiv.
According to Ukrainian officials, pro-Russian actors are seeking to sway the outcome of a high-level EU meeting on the island, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is presenting proposals to deepen defense cooperation across Europe.
The summit is partly focused on long-term funding for Ukraine, including expanded support for defense production and air defense systems. Ukrainian authorities say the Kremlin is attempting to undermine these efforts by organizing demonstrations presented as grassroots peace initiatives.
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