BRUSSELS (ANP) – Purchases should primarily be made within Europe. Only if the necessary materials are unavailable in Europe or cannot be delivered promptly can they be sourced from outside the continent.
Of the 30 billion euros in loans, a portion will provide budgetary support to assist Ukraine in its EU accession reforms and national modernization, stated Von der Leyen at a news conference. “This includes Ukraine’s commitment to uphold strong democratic processes, enforce the rule of law, and implement anti-corruption measures.” She emphasized that these requirements are non-negotiable.
“This support ensures that Ukraine can enhance its defense capabilities on the battlefield and improve its overall defense infrastructure,” Von der Leyen noted. She stated that the loan addresses all of Ukraine’s military needs while enabling essential services to remain operational.
The Netherlands advocated for Ukraine to have the option to acquire defense equipment from outside Europe when no alternatives exist, while France and others opposed this stance. The Commission’s proposal reflects a typical EU compromise.
The spending proposal still awaits approval from member states and the European Parliament. In December, the heads of government agreed to the loan to Ukraine, and the conditions have since been finalized.
Von der Leyen reiterated that the Commission’s initial proposal to leverage frozen Russian assets as collateral for Ukraine’s loan is still under consideration. This serves as a clear message from the EU about its intention to utilize these frozen assets if necessary.
The European Commission plans to borrow 90 billion euros from the capital markets, which will then be allocated to Ukraine. The EU budget provides a guarantee for this borrowing. Ukraine will not be required to repay the loan until Russia compensates for the damages it has inflicted.
Von der Leyen expressed hopes for a quick approval process by member states and the European Parliament, allowing Ukraine to access the first tranche of the loan by April.
(14 January 2026)
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