Ukraine asks EU to finance Patriot missiles from €90 billion loan; von der Leyen confirms review
Ukraine has formally requested that the European Commission finance the purchase of US-made PAC-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems from the EU's €90 billion support loan. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed receipt of the request on 2 September ahead of a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels, saying EU member states are reviewing it and that the process is "moving in the right direction." Because PAC-3 missiles are produced outside the EU and Ukraine, the purchase requires a special exemption from the loan's "buy European" rule, with the final decision resting with EU member states.
Why it matters
This is the first official Ukrainian request to the EU specifically to finance PAC-3 missiles for Patriot under the €90 billion loan, signaling a shift toward using EU funds for non-European air defense systems. Patriot interceptors are central to shielding Ukrainian cities and infrastructure from Russian ballistic missile strikes, including the increased use of Zircon and S-400 missiles on ballistic trajectories. The request tests the loan's "buy European" rule, since PAC-3 missiles are made in the United States and require a formal derogation approved by the Commission after expert and member-state consultation. It also highlights the EU's growing role as a financier of Ukraine's air defense at a time when US deliveries have reportedly fallen short, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying Ukraine received three times fewer air defense missiles in the first half of 2026 than in the previous year.
What happened
On 2 September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that Ukraine has sent a formal request to use several billion euros from the EU's €90 billion support loan to purchase PAC-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems. She made the announcement ahead of a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels, noting that EU member states are reviewing the request and that the process is "moving in the right direction." Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said on 3 September that the Commission is pushing the issue as quickly as possible given its urgency, though no specific delivery timelines have been announced because they will depend on contract terms between Ukraine and the manufacturers. Approval timelines can range from a few days to one to two weeks, according to reporting. Because PAC-3 missiles are produced in the United States, their purchase requires a special exemption from the program's "buy European" priority rule, which must be approved by the Commission after consulting an expert group and receiving a positive opinion from a program committee of EU member states. Since June, the EU has disbursed approximately €8.5 billion from the loan for drones and missiles for Ukraine, with an additional €6.1 billion approved, including for air defense.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All supplied sources are Ukrainian and frame the story as confirmation that Ukraine's first official request to finance Patriot missiles from the EU loan has been received and is being expedited by the European Commission. Ukrainian coverage emphasizes the urgency of air defense needs, citing Zelensky's claim of sharply reduced interceptor deliveries and Russia's increased use of ballistic missiles, and presents the EU process as moving positively.
Where reporting differs
Sources differ on how specifically the requested amount is described: some characterize it only as "several billion euros," while others, including Suspilne citing its own sources, say Ukraine is requesting more than €2 billion for the purchase.
Background
The EU approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine covering 2026–2027, of which roughly €60 billion is earmarked for defense procurements and about €30 billion for budget support; up to €45 billion is available in 2026, with €28.3 billion for defense. Since June, the EU has disbursed approximately €8.5 billion from the loan for drones and missiles for Ukraine, with an additional €6.1 billion approved in part for air defense. Ukraine and the EU are jointly working on the FREYA project to develop a European anti-ballistic missile defense system. President Zelensky has said that in the first half of 2026 Ukraine received three times fewer air defense missiles than in the previous year, with partners citing Middle East operations as the reason. On 29 July, Zelensky said he asked US President Donald Trump for an emergency "winter package" of 300 Patriot interceptors, which Trump reportedly refused due to US shortages. On 13 August, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas called on EU member states with Patriot missiles in storage to transfer them to Ukraine; on 1 September she announced a high-level group of former European and Ukrainian political and military leaders to work on defense capability issues.