EU Approves €6.1 Billion Defence Package for Ukraine as Western Leaders Gather in Kyiv

The European Union has approved a €6.1 billion defence package for Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Monday.

Von der Leyen said Europe stands with Ukraine and will deliver what it needs when it needs it. The package forms part of ongoing support as Russia intensifies strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Western and EU leaders arrived in Kyiv on Sunday ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations and a meeting of the coalition of the willing. The gatherings aim to reaffirm political and military backing while advancing work on long-term security guarantees.

Russian strikes over the weekend included a double-tap attack on a shopping centre that killed 16 people and wounded more than 130, according to Ukrainian authorities. Civilian deaths have reached their highest levels since the early months of the invasion as Ukraine faces shortages of air-defence interceptors.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that holding a wartime presidential election would risk splitting the country. Calls for a vote have grown in some quarters, but Zelenskyy maintains the security situation makes it too dangerous.

Norway separately pledged an additional $9.2 billion in financial support for Ukraine in 2027, matching its 2026 level. Other European countries continue to supply equipment and training.

The new EU package arrives as Moscow exploits gaps in Ukraine’s air defences. Ukrainian forces have conducted their own strikes inside Russia, including drone attacks that killed three people over the weekend.

The combination of fresh funding, high-level visits and sustained Russian pressure sets the stage for further hard fighting through the autumn. European leaders have signalled that the defence package is only one element of a broader, multi-year commitment.