Ukraine to Acquire Chinese Drone Parts with EU Funds
kolmapäev, 15. juuli 2026
Ukraine plans to buy Chinese drone parts using EU funds, the Financial Times reports.
Ukraine will be allowed to spend EU defence loan funds on Chinese drone components, underscoring Europe’s reliance on Beijing as it struggles to build up its own defence industry.
Two people familiar with the decision said Kiev has been granted an exemption from a €6bn ($7.6bn) loan to buy drone components from China. The funds are the first part of a wider €60bn ($7.6bn) support loan for Ukraine, which is earmarked for defence procurement.
The exemption also highlights China’s role in supplying both sides in the more than four-year conflict. While the EU has accused Beijing of being “the main enabler of Russia’s war” against Ukraine, the EU acknowledges that Kiev’s arms industry also relies on Chinese components.
Ukraine itself has built one of Europe’s most innovative defence industries under Russian bombardment. Its domestic manufacturers have outperformed traditional European arms companies in several areas. Suppliers from across the continent are struggling to meet Kiev's needs.
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