Ukraine has received €3.9 billion ($4.6 billion) from the EU, marking the first defense-related disbursement under the new Ukraine Support Loan program, Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance announced on Tuesday.The funds were transferred to Ukraine’s special state budget fund and will help expand Ukraine’s defense industry and purchase urgently needed military equipment for the front.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“This first defense installment under the Ukraine Support Loan is an important practical step in implementing the EU’s new support format for Ukraine,” Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said, according to the ministry’s press release.“These funds will be directed toward what is critically important for our resilience today: strengthening Ukrainian drone production, the defense industry, and meeting the needs of the defense forces,” he added.EU support programThe payment is part of the EU’s Ukraine Support Loan – a two-year financial framework covering 2026-27 with a total value of up to €90 billion ($103 billion).Under the initiative, €60 billion ($79 billion) is allocated for defense needs, including investments in Ukraine’s defense-industrial capacity, while the remaining €30 billion ($34 billion) is intended for economic and budgetary support.Of that amount, up to €45 billion ($51 billion) is expected to be available to Ukraine during 2026, including €28.3 billion ($32.3 billion) earmarked specifically for defense.