EU chief pledges military aid in Kyiv Statehood visit

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, to mark Ukraine's annual Statehood Day, pledging continued military and financial support for the country's independence as it resists Russia's full-scale invasion. The visit, her eleventh to Ukraine since the war began, coincided with a gathering of southeastern European leaders in the capital for a summit focused on Black Sea and regional security.

During her trip, von der Leyen announced new initiatives aimed at integrating European and Ukrainian defense industries, with a particular focus on boosting joint drone production. She also said the European Union would provide new assistance to prepare Ukrainian air defenses for the coming winter, a period when Russia has historically targeted energy infrastructure. The visit follows Ukraine's recent opening of a new cluster in its European Union accession negotiations, covering foreign, security, and defense policy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently secured significant pledges of further international support, including from the Group of Seven industrialized nations. The southeastern European summit, a periodic...