EU releases €6.6 billion to reimburse states arming Ukraine as Kyiv strikes kill seven

European Union member states have agreed to release €6.6 billion from a fund designed to reimburse countries that have supplied weapons to Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on Friday.

The fund reimburses EU governments for military equipment and support they have provided to Ukraine as it continues to defend against Russia's invasion. Releasing this tranche is intended to ease the financial burden on member states that have committed significant resources to arming Kyiv's forces.

Deadly strikes on Kyiv

The announcement came on a day when Russian strikes hit Kyiv, killing at least seven people, according to local authorities. The attack adds to a long list of strikes on the Ukrainian capital throughout the war, which have repeatedly targeted both military and civilian infrastructure.

The timing of the EU's funding decision, alongside the reported casualties in Kyiv, underscores the dual track on which the war has proceeded: continued Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory alongside sustained Western financial and military support for Kyiv's defense.

EU officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of maintaining a steady flow of support to Ukraine as the war continues, with funding mechanisms like the reimbursement fund forming part of the bloc's broader effort to coordinate assistance among member states.