EU Reaffirms Solidarity with Ukraine on 35th Independence Anniversary, Approves €6.1B Air Defense Package

On Ukraine's 35th Independence Day, the European Commission unfurled the Ukrainian flag and illuminated the Berlaymont building in Ukraine's colors, and approved €6.1 billion in fresh funding for air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radars. Cumulative EU humanitarian, financial and military support to Ukraine since the 2022 invasion now totals €220.2 billion, including disbursements from the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. European Council President António Costa, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, and other leaders traveled to Kyiv for the ceremony (held without a traditional military parade); French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz joined remotely. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, on his first overseas trip since taking office, co-chaired a 'coalition of the willing' meeting in Kyiv and announced UK approval for defense firm MBDA to release classified data on British components used in the SCALP long-range missile, opening the way for French-Ukrainian local production of the weapon.