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European Commission - Statement Press statement by President von der Leyen in Ukraine Kyiv, 15 July 2026 Volodymyr, thank you for your warm welcome. I am still so very moved by this morning's ceremony. And by the honour of receiving the Order of Europe. It means a lot to me to be back in Kyiv. In recent weeks and months, Russia has intensified its air attacks on your beautiful capital. And on many other Ukrainian cit...
European Commission - Statement Press statement by President von der Leyen in Ukraine Kyiv, 15 July 2026 Volodymyr, thank you for your warm welcome. I am still so very moved by this morning's ceremony. And by the honour of receiving the Order of Europe. It means a lot to me to be back in Kyiv. In recent weeks and months, Russia has intensified its air attacks on your beautiful capital. And on many other Ukrainian cities. So my presence and the presence of other leaders here today carries a simple message. The EU stands with the brave people of Ukraine. Russia may have darkened your skies with smoke. But no one is fooled. No cloud of smoke can hide the reality on the battlefield. Russia's momentum is weak. Ukraine, on the other hand, continues to resist. Every strike only strengthens your people's determination to be free. And our resolve to support you and Ukraine any way we can, for as long as needed. I want to mention three points. My first point is about how we are teaming up to protect your skies. We have just launched our defence partnership. At its heart is our new Drone Deal. What is this about? Very concretely. This new cooperation will be built around joint ventures. With targeted technology transfers, expertise and investment in dual use sectors in Ukraine. The goal is to bring together the best of the Ukrainian and EU drone ecosystems: That is Ukrainian ingenuity, tested every day on the battlefield. And EU industrial strength, able to produce at speed and at scale. We will not only develop the next generation drones and counter-drone systems. Crucially, we will manufacture them faster than ever before. So that Ukraine gets what it needs now. And Europe as a whole builds the capabilities it might need for tomorrow. This is just the beginning. We are paving the way for much more. Because we want to apply this same model of cooperation to other capabilities. Including, for example, missiles and air defence systems. And we will keep on deepening the integration of our defence industries, on both sides. In the very same way we are integrating our markets. By removing barriers - by aligning our standards - as quickly as possible. From defence procurement to the protection of intellectual property. So that our industries can work together seamlessly. This is why we are also exploring how to strengthen key defence supply chains. Down to the smallest, most essential components. Because defence industries will increasingly be judged by their ability to sustain themselves over time. And we must rise to that challenge as it is a central pillar of our Union's readiness. All of this is backed by serious financial support. Our 90 billion EUR Ukraine Support Loan is now fully at work. More than a third will be invested in defence products for Ukraine this year alone. On 30 June we disbursed the first military assistance package – this time for drones only. That is the largest drone support package globally. And today, I am glad to announce a new disbursement of 1 billion EUR for drones to help clear your skies. Rest assured that much more is coming. Because we have just approved a 10 billion EUR disbursement plan. For more drones, missiles and fighter aircraft. So as I said, this is really just the beginning. Volodymyr, my second point is on accession. Last month, we opened the first cluster, on Fundamentals. It was a historic breakthrough. And now, only a few weeks later, we have opened another one. Cluster 6, on External Relations. And it is not any cluster. This one has a special meaning. It is about how we see the world. How we act in the world. How we defend our values and our interests. Of course, no country could possibly understand what is at stake better than Ukraine. You are preparing for your future as a Member State of our Union. But the truth is, your actions are already shaping the future of our entire continent. And the optics of geopolitics for decades to come. So this opening carries a special meaning. On external relations, Ukraine is definitely acting as a future Member State of our Union. One we are infinitely proud of. Volodymyr, this will stand as an important part of your legacy. So let me congratulate you once again. And now of course the reform effort continues across the board. So that we can open many more clusters, as quickly as possible. Rest assured that the Commission, and me personally, we will stand fully by your side throughout this process. Ready to support you, every step of the way. My last point is on preparations for the winter. Volodymyr, summer is beautiful here. And I cannot wait to come back in a time of peace. But we will not forget the winters Russia has inflicted on Ukraine and its people. The Kremlin has tried to freeze your people into submission. Winter after winter, it failed. It has failed because of the extraordinary resilience of the Ukrainian people. And because Europe has stood by your side. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the EU has invested over 4 billion EUR for winterisation and energy. Including 920 million for this year only. Just to keep Ukraine's energy system running in harsh times. And as we prepare for another winter, our support continues. We are helping repair, rebuild and strengthen Ukraine's energy infrastructure, according to our well-oiled plan. Whatever happens, this winter of 2026, we will do our utmost to keep light and heats on in Ukrainian homes. As always, and forever, you can count on us. Slava Ukraini. STATEMENT/26/1631 Press contacts: Paula PINHO (+32 2 29 20815) Arianna PODESTA (+32 2 298 70 24) Olof GILL (+32 2 29 65966) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email
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