Key facts
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Kyiv on July 15.
- The visit coincides with Ukraine's Statehood Day.
- Reports suggest a potential defense aid package of up to 18 billion euros.
- This package may include funds for weapons purchased by EU countries and existing support loans.
- Ukraine has also submitted requests for air defense systems.
- A proposal to mobilize 6.6 billion euros from the European Peace Facility is reportedly under consideration.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to visit Kyiv on July 15, coinciding with Ukraine's Statehood Day. The visit comes amid reports from Polish news outlet TVP World suggesting the European Commission is preparing a significant defense support package for Ukraine, potentially valued up to 18 billion euros ($21 billion).
Details of the proposed package, according to TVP World, include 10 billion euros ($11 billion) allocated for weapons purchased by EU member states through the SAFE defense loans program, alongside 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) from existing support loans. Ukraine has already received 3.9 billion euros ($4.4 billion) of a larger EU support tranche, with a gap of 2 billion euros remaining. Ukraine has also submitted further requests for air defense systems, which could lead to a larger sum being announced.
An additional 6.6 billion euros ($7.5 billion) is reportedly proposed from the EU's European Peace Facility (EPF). However, funding from the EPF involves contributions from EU countries and is subject to internal disagreements regarding its allocation between reimbursing past equipment purchases and funding new ones. The European Commission's spokespeople have been notably reserved when discussing defense-related topics, citing potential overlap with the visit's agenda.
This visit follows closely on the heels of the EU formally launching new negotiations with Ukraine focused on foreign policy alignment, a step in Kyiv's bid to join the bloc. EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has also highlighted Ukraine's association with defense funding mechanisms like the European Defense Fund (EDF) and the European Defense Industry Program (EDIP).