13:30
26.02.2026
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/KubiliusA/
In a rapid blitz-interview with Interfax-Ukraine, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius shared Europe’s firm stance on continued military support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war. Speaking from Kyiv, the Commissioner highlighted the most pressing priorities: massive scaling of drone production, learning from Ukrainian frontline experience in drone warfare and counter-drone systems, urgent steps to increase European missile output, expanding ammunition supplies, and deepening cooperation to modernize anti-ballistic defence.
Text: Valerie Proshchenko
Q: My opening question is on drone innovations: how is communication going with the Ukrainian side, what can Europe learn from our experience, and which areas need more development?
A.K: Well, first of all, we definitely want to support Ukrainian drone production, which is very much needed for Ukraine’s defense. We are talking with the Defense Minister, and as you know, we are now finalizing all the details of the so-called 60 billion Ukrainian support loan. I hope that a decision will be found in the EU Council quite soon, despite the traditional Hungarian opposition, because this loan is crucial to keep Ukraine able to fight. That’s very clear.
We are discussing with Ukrainian authorities what their priorities are and what kinds of weapons they want to acquire. Of course, drones are one of the top priorities. There is a real need to produce millions and millions of drones – more than 7 million. Some drones could perhaps also be produced in Europe, but the majority should be made in Ukraine. That is our clear priority. Besides drones, of course, missiles and 155 mm extended-range ammunition are the other two main priorities.
Secondly, we definitely want to learn a lot from Ukraine about drone innovations, anti-drone defense, and how drones are used on the front line. That is why we now have several initiatives on the European side, such as the Drone Defense Initiative (EDDI) and Eastern Flank Watch, covering all frontline countries from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. These flagship projects can become so-called European defense projects of common interest under our regulations. Ukraine can be part of those European defense projects. That would allow Ukraine to share its knowledge and for us to learn from it. I hope this can be a really successful development.
Q: How about missiles? There is a lack of them and Europe doesn’t have enough – what to do?
A.K: We really understand the problem. We visited missile producers here — they are very good and very strong, and Europe can learn a lot from Ukrainians.
But also, definitely for air defense, Ukraine needs missiles that are produced in Europe or in the United States. I’m ready to go on what we call a “missile tour” — visiting all the factories in Europe that produce missiles, talking with industry about whether they can increase production to really meet Ukraine’s needs. We shall also talk with governments about whether they can open their stockpiles of missiles to allow Ukraine to receive them very quickly — and then replenish those stockpiles through increased industrial production. That is one of the priorities we are focusing on.
We also understand that Ukrainians have very specific knowledge, for example, in anti-ballistic defense. They are facing a challenge because the Russians are modernizing their ballistic missiles to change trajectory in flight, and traditional anti-ballistic systems like Patriot, SAMP/T, or IRIS-T are having some problems intercepting those Russian ballistic missiles. Cooperation between Ukrainian producers, defense experts, and European missile producers will be extremely important because anti-ballistic missile defense also needs to be modernized on the European or Western side.
Q: What about 155 mm ammunition? Is it still an ongoing project? Are you still providing it to us?
A.K: Yes, it will continue. Europe is expanding its production. That was a big problem at the beginning of the big war. We are now producing more than 2 million rounds per year. Extended-range ammunition is more specific, but we believe we will be able to resolve that issue as well.
Of course, the biggest problem at the moment is missiles, which is why we are concentrating our attention there.
Q: But there’s still a very popular question for you: Can Europe fully militarily stand with Ukraine if the US does not?
A.K: We are standing. We are showing that we are standing. We are supporting Ukraine very clearly. We are now the only ones providing really strong financial support for Ukraine’s defense development — both through the EU loan and through individual support from member states. So this year, Europeans will provide around 60 to 70 billion euros for Ukrainian defense, and that is really crucial.
There are some weapons we need to buy from the Americans because neither Europe nor Ukraine is producing them yet. But Ukrainians are catching up very rapidly with new developments and new weapons systems being built here in Ukraine — and that is again very remarkable and very good.
Q: What is the concrete role for Ukraine in the SAFE program? What exactly do you expect from it?
A.K: Well, Ukraine is part of SAFE program – Ukrainian products are considered European. The countries that took SAFE loans (because Ukraine had no possibility to take those loans — only member states could) – the majority of them are promising that they will use part of those loans to procure from Ukraine or to produce something together with Ukraine. We will see what the actual amounts will be.
But definitely much more important right now is this 60 billion loan specifically for Ukraine, which is currently being vetoed by Hungary. I hope Europe will manage to implement this loan because it is the main mechanism to support Ukraine.
Q: But do you also expect full operation of open export of Ukrainian products/technologies?
A.K: We are definitely talking with the Ukrainian side about what they have managed to achieve in the development of their technologies. That is very attractive for Europeans and would be beneficial for Ukrainian development as well.