EU to step up support following Russian strike on “We Are Ukraine” TV Studio

The European Commission is poised to approve the final 28.3-billion-euro tranche of Ukraine's 2023 defense loans on September 11, officials disclosed to the news outlet, Kyiv Independent. This approval encompasses the acquisition of U.S.-manufactured Patriot missiles, essential for safeguarding Ukraine's airspace from Russian ballistic missile assaults.

Despite the EU's initial expectation to approve this request on September 7, an additional step remains before the formal EU endorsement, as confirmed by EU and national diplomats to the Kyiv Independent. The European Commission must still draft the agreement and release a related communication, scheduled for the same date. EU approval is mandatory due to the loan's stipulations, which necessitate that 65% of the project's components originate from the EU, Ukraine, or Norway.

Non-compliant products require exceptional approval, which the EU has granted once previously for Chinese drone components in April 2026. The request for a deviation to purchase U.S. Patriot missiles was submitted by then-Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov shortly before his dismissal by President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 15. However, receiving these missiles is distinct from possessing them; there is a worldwide scarcity of such missiles, and the Freyja interceptor system, being jointly developed by Ukraine and its European allies, is slated to commence live tests only in mid-2027.

The EU's endorsement of the Patriot missile request is also anticipated to sanction approximately 6 billion euros for Ukraine's defense budget, bringing the total approved spending to the full 28.3 billion euros. Nonetheless, Ukraine has only received around 8.4 billion euros thus far due to delays in verifying the invoices and receipts of the purchases, which the EU must scrutinize to confirm compliance with the loan's terms.