EU military support for Ukraine

Addressing Ukraine's military and defence needs

EU military assistance for Ukraine aims to ensure that Ukraine has the military means to continue to exercise its inherent right of self-defence and counter Russia's aggression.

Including the military support provided by EU member states, the overall support for the Ukrainian armed forces provided by the EU is estimated at €88.7 billion. This figure includes €6.4 billion under the European Peace Facility and €8.4 billion under the Ukraine support loan.

The EU complements EU member states' bilateral efforts by delivering enhanced operational support for the Ukrainian armed forces and working to increase common procurement from the European and Ukrainian defence industries.

The overall assistance provided to Ukraine, which also includes financial support, humanitarian aid, proceeds from immobilised Russian assets and support for Ukrainian refugees, amounts to €220.3 billion.

Common procurement under SAFE

Through the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, the EU is providing financial assistance in the form of loans worth up to €150 billion to help EU member states increase their defence investments through common procurement.

While only member states can obtain SAFE loans, Ukraine can participate on equal terms in common procurement under the SAFE instrument. In addition, Ukrainian companies are eligible by default for procurements under SAFE.

The regulation setting up the SAFE instrument entered into force on 28 May 2025.

Of the 19 national SAFE plans submitted to the European Commission by EU member states in 2025, 15 include projects with Ukraine.

Ukraine support loan

On 23 April 2026, the Council agreed to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan to support the country's most urgent budgetary and defence needs in 2026 and 2027.

The loan is financed through EU borrowing on the capital markets, backed by the EU budget. It is to be repaid by war reparations due from Russia to Ukraine.

An indicative €60 billion will be used to support Ukraine's capacity to invest in the defence industry, including procurement of defence products. So far, the EU has disbursed €8.4 billion to finance the procurement of drones for Ukraine.

The funding is giving Ukraine crucial and timely access to defence products from both the Ukrainian and EU defence industries.

Council finalises €90 billion support loan to Ukraine (press release, 23 April 2026)

A long cylindrical metal rod mounted in a large industrial machining rig.

What is Security Action for Europe (SAFE)?

European Peace Facility

Between 2022 and 2025, the EU mobilised €6.4 billion under the European Peace Facility (EPF) to address Ukraine's pressing military and defence needs.

Through the EPF, the EU finances the provision of lethal and non‑lethal military equipment and supplies, such as personal protective equipment, first aid kits, fuel, ammunition and missiles.

The EPF also covers the common costs of the EU military assistance mission to Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) and the two related assistance measures for the provision of the equipment necessary for the training.

The EPF has also successfully channelled revenues worth €3.4 billion from immobilised Russian assets to military support for Ukraine.

Norway has supported the EU’s efforts under the EPF with a contribution of NOK 250 million (approximately €22 million).

Ukraine support instrument

On 8 December 2025, the Council adopted the European defence industry programme which, among other things, supports Ukraine's defence industry through a dedicated instrument (the Ukraine support instrument). This new instrument will:

incentivise cooperative procurement with Ukraine
finance the ramping-up of the defence industrial manufacturing capacities of Ukrainian companies

The Ukraine support instrument will be endowed with a financial envelope of €300 million.

European defence fund

On 18 December 2025, the Council adopted new rules that, among other things, allow Ukraine to be associated to the European defence fund, thereby creating new opportunities for Ukrainian entities to take part in future EU collaborative defence research and development activities.

Council adopts measures to incentivise and simplify defence investments in the EU (press release, 18 December 2025)

European defence industry programme

Training for Ukrainian soldiers

On 15 November 2022, the EU launched its military assistance mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) for an initial duration of two years. On 8 November 2024, the Council decided to extend the mission for an additional two years, until 15 November 2026.

The aim of the mission is to contribute to enhancing the military capability of Ukraine’s armed forces to conduct operations, in order to allow Ukraine to:

defend its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders
exercise its sovereignty
protect civilians

EUMAM Ukraine works closely with like-minded international partners.

Mission activities are carried out on EU soil. So far, 24 EU member states have offered training modules and personnel and over 95 000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained under the mission since its launch.

The training is facilitated by the provision of equipment to the Ukrainian armed forces, funded by the European Peace Facility.

Financial support for EUMAM Ukraine under the European Peace Facility has totalled €610 million so far: €435 million for the cost of the training (common costs) and €175 million for the provision of training equipment.

Norway has supported the mission with a contribution of 150 million kroner (approximately €14 million).

Ammunition and missiles

In March 2023, the Council agreed on a three-track plan to speed up the delivery and joint procurement of ammunition and missiles for Ukraine. The first two tracks, each worth €1 billion, are being financed under the European Peace Facility.

The first track, adopted on 13 April 2023, allows the EU to reimburse member states for ammunition donated to Ukraine from existing stocks or from the reprioritisation of existing orders.

The second track, adopted on 5 May 2023, supports the joint procurement of ammunition and missiles from economic operators established in the EU or in Norway.

The third track, adopted on 20 July 2023, is the regulation on supporting ammunition production (ASAP). This regulation mobilises €500 million from the EU budget to support the ramping-up of manufacturing capacities for the production of ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition as well as missiles.

EU-Ukraine joint security commitments

On 27 June 2024, the EU and Ukraine signed joint security commitments.

Building on existing support, the EU security commitments include predictable, long-term and sustainable support for Ukraine’s security and defence, including through the common security and defence policy missions, as well as wider security commitments. These commitments will help Ukraine to defend itself, resist destabilisation efforts and deter acts of aggression in the future.

For its part, Ukraine committed to continue undertaking reforms including those in line with its path towards the European Union. Ukraine will also continue to strengthen transparency and accountability measures and to contribute to the security of the European Union and its member states.