European Commission Allows Ukraine to Buy Patriot Missiles with Loan Funds

The European Commission has approved Ukraine’s purchase of U.S.-made interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems using funds from a €90 billion EU loan.

Suspilne reports that Ukraine has requested more than €2 billion for the missile purchases. The funding is expected to come from the EU loan covering 2026–2027.

Ukraine submitted the relevant request on September 3, 2026, as part of the Ukraine Support Loan program.

The European Council decided in December 2025 to create a €90 billion loan for Ukraine. In April 2026, the Council of the EU gave final approval to the financing mechanism.

Of the total amount, around €30 billion has been allocated for Ukraine’s economic support, while another €60 billion will go toward military needs and developing defense capabilities.

The loan is financed through EU borrowing on international capital markets, backed by guarantees from the EU budget.

The military component of the program funds weapons purchases, including equipment produced by Ukraine’s and Europe’s defense industries.

Meanwhile, the mechanism allows weapons to be purchased from outside the EU if European manufacturers do not have sufficient quantities available.

On August 6, the European Commission confirmed that Ukraine could use the loan funds to purchase interceptor missiles. Brussels said that Ukraine determines its own military needs and submits the relevant funding requests.

This opened the door for Ukraine to use the loan funds to purchase non-European weapons that it needs.

In addition to the United States, the United Kingdom is one such country and among Ukraine’s largest suppliers of military equipment. In 2025, the UK ranked third among the leading arms exporters to Ukraine, accounting for 13% of total deliveries.

In April 2026, Militarnyi reported that the European Union could allow the United Kingdom to join the €90 billion loan mechanism for Ukraine, with €60 billion earmarked for defense needs.