EU says Ukraine slower than expected in using drone funding

The European Commission said on Tuesday that Ukraine had not yet received the full amount of funding promised for drone procurement because Kyiv had so far submitted contracts worth only €5 billion for approval.

Speaking at a briefing in Brussels, Commission spokesperson Balázs Ujvári said, that the EU had transferred a €3.9 billion tranche after reviewing the contracts submitted by Ukraine, adding that the Commission could allocate funding only against approved contracts, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He said Ukraine had so far been able to absorb €5 billion in military funding and that the remaining money would be released once the Commission had reviewed additional contracts. He added that if Ukraine later submitted contracts covering the outstanding €900 million, the EU would also be able to provide those funds.

The funding marks the initial phase of a €90 billion military financing package for 2026–2027 approved by the European Commission after EU member states agreed to support it through a joint European loan, which the European Union will service.

Under the programme, military procurement contracts financed with the funds must primarily be awarded to European defence manufacturers or, where appropriate, Ukrainian defence companies.

The Commission also said the funding could not be used to purchase U.S.-made weapons unless Brussels granted specific authorisation.

By Aghakazim Guliyev