EU Commission Proposes Using SAFE Program Funds for Ukrainian Drones.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has proposed a new idea: the remaining funds from the SAFE defense program should be used to purchase drones for Ukraine. The Financial Times reports on this, citing its sources.

At the European Council summit in Brussels, von der Leyen told the leaders of the EU member states that the unused defense credits of €21 billion could be used by Kyiv to purchase drones. The SAFE program, launched in May 2025, provided up to €150 billion in subsidized long-term loans for joint procurement of military equipment and to strengthen the defense industrial potential of the European Union.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the same summit, called on the EU to be prepared to finance Ukraine's military needs even after 2027. In 2027, Kyiv will have to request at least €70 billion from Brussels. He reminded that Ukraine helps to guarantee the security of Europe, but that there are currently no such guarantees in the EU budget for the period starting in 2028.

"…Ukraine 'helps to guarantee the security of Europe'," Zelenskyy emphasized, speaking about future contributions from Europe. Previously, von der Leyen had assured him that support would continue "for as long as it is needed.