The decision formally authorizes Kyiv to spend the Ukraine Support Loan on interceptor missiles, drones and air defense equipment, Kubilius said, according to Radio Liberty's Ukrainian service.
"We worked a lot with member states and Ukraine to achieve this goal. This decision officially allows Ukraine to purchase PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems using Ukraine Support Loan funds," Kubilius said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine can now acquire the necessary Patriot equipment to better protect its sky from Russia's indiscriminate attacks.
The money comes from a 90 billion euro EU loan package for Ukraine covering 2026-2027. Of that total, 60 billion euros is earmarked for defense needs and another 30 billion for budgetary support for Ukraine.
Under the loan's rules, only weapons with at least 65% European or Ukrainian components may be purchased. Products that do not meet that threshold require separate authorization. The Commission has now approved five exceptions: three concern drones and components manufactured in Ukraine whose value exceeds the established thresholds, and two concern American weapons, primarily PAC-3. U.S. arms may also be purchased through the NATO-coordinated PURL mechanism.
An exception had previously been made for Chinese drone components. The authorization to spend European money on PAC-3 does not mean Ukraine will quickly receive new missiles, the Kyiv Independent notes. Kyiv is currently concluding contracts for the supply of about 1,000 missiles for Patriot, but a significant share of those orders will be fulfilled only in subsequent years.
Kubilius also said the EU and NATO are discussing a scheme under which countries would hand over missiles from their own stockpiles to Ukraine now and later receive interceptors from batches contracted for Kyiv in 2027. "Member states could transfer missiles from their stockpiles to Ukraine now and then receive missiles from the deliveries Ukraine is due to receive in 2027," the commissioner said. According to him, Ukraine already has understandings or agreements with various suppliers and EU countries on PAC-3 deliveries next year. Several days ago, Germany promised to transfer missiles from its own stockpiles to Ukraine.
With the new decision, the European Commission has allocated all 28.3 billion euros set aside under the Ukraine Support Loan for defense support to Ukraine in 2026. Specific purchases, suppliers, quantities and timelines have already been determined for those funds. Of that amount, 8.35 billion euros has already been disbursed.
The shortage of missiles for Patriot systems is one of the most serious problems for Ukraine's defense capability. Analysts assess that in the cold season Moscow intends to step up attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure to strengthen its negotiating position. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Axios that Russia, in his view, would seek to "break" Ukraine by intensifying strikes on infrastructure specifically during the winter period.