Ukraine's Independence Day - 24 August 2026

As we celebrate Ukraine's Independence Day, we recognise the importance of freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity. These are not abstract ideas. They are principles at the heart of peace, security and the international order.

Ukraine continues to defend its independence during exceptionally difficult circumstances. Russia's illegal war on Ukraine has an unacceptable toll, including on civilians. In July 2026, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine counted the highest number of civilians killed since May 2022, with at least 437 killed and 2610 injured.

"The EU remains unwavering in our support for Ukraine. We stand with Ukraine militarily, economically, politically and diplomatically. We support a just and lasting peace based on international law and the UN Charter. Our support to Ukraine is about making peace a reality. "

Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission

The EU will continue to step up the pressure on Russia to come to the negotiation table and actually negotiate. This is what the European Union is doing with more sanctions and more financial and military support for Ukraine.

Military and financial support to Ukraine

Since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion, the EU has disbursed EUR 220.2 billion to Ukraine, covering military, humanitarian and budget support.

The Ukraine Support Loan is a €90 billion limited recourse loan taken by the European Union and its Member States to help Ukraine defend itself against the ongoing full scale invasion, protect its citizens and secure infrastructure as Russia continues its war of aggression.

The loan will support Ukraine's general budget and defence needs for 2026 and 2027. Following the principle of "Nothing about Ukraine, without Ukraine", the money will be made accessible in areas determined by a financing strategy prepared by Ukraine and approved by the European Union.

Since 2022, more than 94,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trainedby the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine - EUMAM Ukraine. The Mission is a direct response to Ukraine's request for support. It is mandated to provide:

• individual, collective and specialised training for Ukraine's Armed Forces
• coordination and synchronisation of Member States' activities delivering the training.

The EU also contributes through the European Peace Facility towards building a stronger Ukrainian defence industry, encouraging joint ventures between Ukrainian and European companies and to accelerating Ukraine's production of military equipment. Find out more about EU military support to Ukraine.

Keeping up the pressure: restrictive measures against Russia

The EU has so far imposed 21 packages of massive and unprecedented sanctions on Russia in response to the latter's aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

Furthermore, on 13 July this year the EU exposed Russia's malicious cyber ecosystem and adopted new restrictive measures targeting those responsible for malicious cyber activities in support of Russia's strategic objectives.

The EU continues to stand with Ukraine

The EU is committed to continue to provide enhanced political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for Ukraine and its people. Ukraine will have European Union support for as long as it takes.