The European Union has announced the launch of the joint Drone Deal programme with Ukraine, aimed at developing drone production and integrating Ukraine’s defence-industrial complex into the European defence ecosystem. At the same time, the European Commission has allocated an additional €1 billion to Ukraine for drone procurement under a large-scale €90 billion loan programme.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the new initiatives during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Details of the decisions were subsequently published on the European Commission’s official website.
According to the European Commission President, the Drone Deal programme provides for deeper cooperation between Ukrainian and European drone manufacturers, as well as the gradual integration of Ukraine’s defence industry into the European single market.
“Our defence-industrial partnership will integrate Ukraine’s defence economy in the same way we integrate our markets: by removing barriers and accelerating the alignment of standards, from defence procurement to intellectual property protection,” Ursula von der Leyen said.
Under the new support package, the European Commission will provide Ukraine with €1 billion for drone procurement. The funding will be allocated through the European Union’s €90 billion loan programme and will represent the second tranche designated exclusively for the purchase of drones.
In addition, the European Commission confirmed the approval of a long-term €10 billion financing plan covering the procurement of additional weapons, including drones, missiles, and combat aircraft. The programme is aimed at further strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities and developing joint production projects with European partners.
According to information presented during the announcement of the initiative, Ukraine and the European Union also intend to establish the joint production of anti-ballistic missiles by 2028. This is expected to become one of the key areas of deeper defence-industrial cooperation between the two sides.
The launch of the Drone Deal forms part of the EU’s strategy to integrate Ukraine’s defence-industrial complex into the European security system and expand joint weapons production amid the continued provision of support to Ukraine.
