In the first quarter, Ukraine will gain access to €140 million in EU credit financing and €21 million in the form of an investment grant for projects supporting dual-use technologies.
This was reported by Anna Hvozdar, advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, following the Technical Meeting under the Ukraine Investment Framework with the participation of the Government of Ukraine, DG ENEST, and partner financial institutions. During the meeting, key parameters of the mechanism, financial volumes, and the necessary intergovernmental agreements were agreed upon.
Specific support instruments for Ukraine were also discussed during the roundtable “Being Ready to Support a Strong Partnership with Ukraine,” attended by EU and NATO representatives. The event focused on developing solutions for Ukraine’s long-term resilience and strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities.
In her speech, Anna Hvozdar emphasized that Ukraine has recently transitioned from emergency response to systematically building defense capabilities. She noted that Ukraine has achieved a key shift — moving from full dependence on external supplies to developing its own defense-industrial potential in partnership with allies. Programs such as SAFE, EDIP, Build in Ukraine, Build with Ukraine, and the “Danish model” played an important role as practical foundations for joint manufacturing projects.
Special attention was given to security challenges and enhanced cooperation during meetings with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, EU institution representatives, and leaders of major European defense companies. The discussions highlighted Ukraine’s role as a partner with unique experience in rapidly scaling up defense production during wartime.
The practical implementation of these agreements was the subject of a separate meeting with Benedikta von Zeherr-Toss, Managing Director of the European External Action Service for Peace, Security, and Defense, focusing on coordination of EU defense initiatives, support for the development of Ukraine’s defense industry, and the implementation of the Ukraine Support Loan, approved by EU member-state leaders in December 2025.
During her visit, Anna Hvozdar also met with Kamil Sultan Grand, Secretary General of the European Association of Aerospace, Security, and Defense Industries (ASD), and Mikael Johansson, President of the association. The parties agreed to create a joint platform to deepen interaction and practical cooperation between Ukrainian and EU defense enterprises. A separate joint meeting dedicated to launching and developing this cooperation format was also scheduled in the near future.
