The wear and tear on Ukrainian drones exceeds the production capacity of their partners.Image: keystone
July 15, 2026, 2:55 p.mJuly 15, 2026, 2:55 p.m
In the eyes of the EU, China is Russia’s most important supporter in the war with Ukraine. Nevertheless, Ukraine now wants to buy weapons components from its opponent’s partner – with EU funds. That’s what she reports Financial Times.
Kiev obtained an exception for the purchase of Chinese drone components in the first partial payment of support funds, two people familiar with the decision told the newspaper. A total of 60 billion euros of the EU support loan to Ukraine is earmarked for the procurement of defense equipment – 5.9 billion of which is for the procurement of drones.
Although the EU funds are largely intended for arms purchases in the EU, Ukraine or from partners such as Canada, the wear and tear on drones exceeds the production capacities of the Ukrainian partners. Drones have become a crucial weapon in the war with Russia, accounting for 80 percent of Russian casualties, according to Ukrainian officials.
In the eyes of the EU, China under President Xi Jinping (r.) is the biggest supporter of Vladimir Putin’s (l.) war against Ukraine.Image: keystone
If suppliers are used outside the approved categories, a maximum of 35 percent of the materials may come from third countries. Arms purchases should not harm the EU’s security and defense interests. Ukraine can apply to the EU for an exception for products that cannot be delivered quickly enough. She has now done this for the drone components and has received approval.
The decision to approve the exception shows where there are still gaps in European defense production, the newspaper writes. This is despite efforts to strengthen Europe’s industry by linking support funds to procurement on the internal market.
China is officially neutral in the Ukraine war. At the same time, it is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil and supports Putin’s defense industry with important components. Again Mirror Already reported last week, Russia and China share a deep strategic partnership.
Neither the European Commission nor the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense wanted to comment on the situation when asked by the Financial Times. (Nile)