The European Commission has released a further €3.47bn in military support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia's invasion.
The funding comes through the defence arm of the EU's €90bn Ukraine Support Loan and is intended to meet Ukraine's urgent need for weapons and other military equipment.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the latest payment would help Ukraine "protect its skies" and strengthen cooperation between European and Ukrainian defence industries.
She said the funding marked the beginning of a new "Drone Deal", combining Europe's industrial capacity with Ukraine's experience in developing and using drones on the battlefield.
The latest tranche includes money for additional drone purchases, including long-range jet-powered drones, as well as missiles and Gripen fighter jets.
The Commission said the aim was to speed up the delivery of equipment that Ukraine needs to defend its territory and airspace.
More funding for drones, ammunition, air-defence systems and missiles is expected to be approved and released in the coming weeks.
The EU said faster deliveries were particularly important because Ukraine is fighting an ongoing war and needs military equipment at short notice.
The latest payment follows several earlier disbursements under the support programme.
On 25 June, the Commission released €3.2bn through a dedicated macro-financial assistance programme. A further €3.9bn was paid under the defence window on 30 June, followed by another €1.1bn on 15 July.
The EU plans to provide €28.3bn in 2026 alone to strengthen Ukraine's defence industry and military capabilities.
The allocation is expected to be finalised by September, with payments continuing until the end of the year.
The wider Ukraine Support Loan is worth €90bn. Of that, €60bn is earmarked for Ukraine's defence capabilities and defence industry, while €30bn is intended to support the country's budget, public services and economic resilience.
The EU approved its 2026 assistance package after Ukraine submitted its financing strategy in March. A Council implementing decision adopted on 23 April provided for up to €45bn in support this year, including €16.7bn in budget assistance and €28.3bn for defence.
The budget support is divided between an additional contribution to the Ukraine Facility and a new macro-financial assistance programme, each worth up to €8.35bn.
The European Commission said the EU and its member states had provided more than €220bn in overall support to Ukraine and Ukrainians since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
That figure includes €3.8bn generated from the proceeds of immobilised Russian assets. Photo by DiscoverWithDima, Wikimedia commons.