Archive · 2 Sep 2026
EU Pledges Continued Support for Ukraine at Ireland Meeting
European defence ministers met in Wicklow, Ireland, to discuss security issues.
They said the European Union will keep helping Ukraine.
The EU has already given Ukraine €8.37 billion for defence.
Ireland said it will contribute €10 million to a training and assistance mission for Ukraine.
The ministers also discussed space security, maritime security and Lebanon.
Russia said its forces captured two settlements in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.
Russia also claimed it stopped 1,050 Ukrainian drones in one day.
Ukraine said it would save money from other government programs and move it to defence.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said support for Ukraine will increase.
The EU has disbursed €8.37 billion in defence support to Ukraine.
Ireland will provide €10 million to the EU’s Ukraine military assistance mission.
EU defence ministers met in Wicklow to discuss Ukraine, security and Lebanon.
Ukraine identified 70 billion hryvnias in savings for defence spending.
- Who
- EU defence ministers, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Irish Defence Minister Helen McEntee, Ukraine and Russia.
- What
- The EU pledged continued support for Ukraine and plans to invest more in its own defence.
- When
- The informal meeting was held on Monday and Tuesday; related statements were issued on Tuesday.
- Where
- Wicklow, Ireland.
- Why
- To discuss continued support for Ukraine, European defence, space and maritime security, and Lebanon.
European and Ukrainian Positions
Russian Position
Support for Ukraine
European and Ukrainian Positions
The EU said it would increase support for Ukraine, while Ireland pledged €10 million to the EU military assistance mission.
Russian Position
Russia’s Defence Ministry continued reporting battlefield gains and Ukrainian drone interceptions rather than discussing the EU’s support commitments.
Battlefield developments
European and Ukrainian Positions
Ukraine is prioritizing defence needs and redirecting identified government savings toward defence spending.
Russian Position
Russia said its forces seized Chervonaya Krinitsa and Novopavlovka in the Zaporizhzhia region and intercepted 1,050 Ukrainian drones within 24 hours.
Budget priorities
European and Ukrainian Positions
Ukraine said it was imposing austerity on budget funds not allocated for defence and would redirect 70 billion hryvnias to defence.
Russian Position
The Russian statement focused on military developments and did not address Ukraine’s budget measures.
- EU defence support already disbursed
- €8.37 billion
- Irish contribution to EUMAM Ukraine
- €10 million
- Ireland’s wider Ukraine package
- €125 million, announced in July
- Ukraine’s identified budget savings
- 70 billion hryvnias, or about $1.57 billion
- Ukraine’s amended 2026 security and defence budget
- 4.4 trillion hryvnias, or about $98.8 billion
- Meeting location
- Wicklow, Ireland
- Meeting format
- Informal strategic discussions without formal decision-making