Zelenskyy announces €3 billion EU military aid package after Russian strikes on energy infrastructure
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the EU will allocate approximately €3 billion in military support to Ukraine next week, following a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The conversation came as Russian drone strikes hit a power station in Kyiv and energy facilities in Kharkiv Oblast, strikes Zelenskyy said occurred after US President Donald Trump's statement about an energy-related ceasefire.
Key points
- Zelenskyy announced an EU military aid package of approximately €3 billion to be allocated next week.
- The call was with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and covered all current areas of EU–Ukraine cooperation.
- Before the call, a Russian Shahed drone struck a power station in Kyiv, causing blackouts across many districts.
- Further strikes later hit energy facilities in Kharkiv Oblast.
- Zelenskyy said the strikes came after Trump's statement about an energy ceasefire.
- A previous tranche of €1.24 billion for defense was disbursed on 7 October under the Ukraine Support Loan credit for Ukrainian-produced drones and missiles.
- Ukraine is preparing to open the remaining EU accession negotiation clusters by the end of the year, with two more planned for 13 October.
- Zelenskyy also spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Why it matters
The €3 billion package would be a major new tranche of EU military aid for Ukraine, and von der Leyen confirmed it during the call with Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy paired the aid announcement with the immediate backdrop of Russian strikes on energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv Oblast, which he framed as a direct contrast to the US-proposed energy ceasefire. The call also touched on EU accession clusters and the European Council summit agenda, signaling that Ukraine support will be a central theme of the week.
What happened
On 11 October 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a detailed phone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, covering all current areas of EU–Ukraine cooperation. Zelenskyy announced that the EU will allocate approximately €3 billion in military support to Ukraine during the following week, intended for drones and missiles to strengthen defense and air-space protection. He also thanked von der Leyen for a recent €1.24 billion tranche for defense that had already arrived in Ukraine — disbursed on 7 October under the Ukraine Support Loan credit for Ukrainian-produced drones, interceptor drones, and missiles. Just before the call, a Russian Shahed drone struck a power station in Kyiv, causing blackouts in many districts, and further strikes hit energy facilities in Kharkiv Oblast later in the day. Zelenskyy said these attacks continued after US President Donald Trump's statement about an energy-related ceasefire. Both leaders agreed that their teams would hold detailed discussions on further joint actions and coordination of steps. Zelenskyy also reported that preparations are underway to open the remaining EU accession negotiation clusters by the end of the year, with two more clusters planned for 13 October. Von der Leyen said Ukraine would be one of the central items on this week's European Council summit agenda, where EU leaders would discuss Ukraine's financial needs for the next year and ways to attract additional international support. Zelenskyy additionally reported a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All the supplied reporting is Ukrainian, so a Ukrainian-vs-international framing cannot be drawn from this set. Within the Ukrainian sources, the €3 billion package is presented as confirmed military support announced by Zelenskyy after direct confirmation from von der Leyen, and the Russian energy strikes are highlighted as a direct rebuke to the US-proposed energy ceasefire. The reporting also emphasizes that the earlier €1.24 billion tranche, disbursed on 7 October, has already been received and is being directed to Ukrainian-produced drones and missiles.
Background
The €1.24 billion tranche referenced as already received was disbursed on 7 October under the EU's Ukraine Support Loan credit, with funds directed to Ukrainian-produced drones, interceptor drones, and missiles. The Ukraine Support Loan program covers 2026–2027 with a total volume of up to €90 billion, of which €60 billion is earmarked for defense and €30 billion for budget support. Under the program, Ukraine has already received approximately €13 billion in defense financing. On 2 October Ukraine received €2.9 billion from the EU, and on 7 October Hungary approved two clusters regarding Ukraine's EU accession. According to data cited by the sources, Ukraine's 2027 defense funding deficit is estimated at $27 billion.