EU to transfer 3.3 bln euros to Ukraine for missiles, drones on September 18

EU to transfer 3.3 bln euros to Ukraine for missiles, drones on September 18 European Commission President Von der Leyen also recalled that the EU approved funding for Patriot systems for Ukraine BRUSSELS, September 18. /TASS/. The European Union will transfer 3.3 bln euros to Ukraine on Friday to be used for purchases of missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said following a phone call with Vladimir Zelensky. Von der Leyen also recalled that last week the EU approved funding for Patriot systems for Ukraine under the Ukraine Support Loan mechanism. According to her, the European Commission is ready to use the remaining funds under the SAFE program to launch a new mechanism for financing joint EU-Ukraine defense projects. In particular, Brussels is proposing the joint development of a European air and missile defense system based on the Freya joint anti-ballistic missile system. The European Commission president said the project should combine "Ukraine’s combat experience and innovation" with European technology and industrial capabilities. Von der Leyen added that the European Union has already mobilized around 15 bln euros for Ukraine since the beginning of the year. During the call, the sides also discussed reforms that, according to her, the Verkhovna Rada needs to carry out to receive further funding and continue Ukraine’s rapprochement with the EU. Next week, the European Commission president plans to attend a session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Von der Leyen said she intends to call on other countries there to increase their support for Ukraine, stressing that Europe is already stepping up its assistance to Kiev. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has repeatedly said that Western aid to Kiev will not be a panacea capable of affecting the course of hostilities and that Western weapons "will be systematically destroyed by the Russian Armed Forces." 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