European Advocacy for Ukraine: Mid-July 2026 Updates

Europäische Union

EU Adopts More Sanctions to Counter Russia 

• On July 13, the EU imposed restrictive measures such as sanctions and asset freezes against 9 individuals and 4 entities responsible for cyber-attacks against the EU and member states. The EU also sanctioned 15 individuals and one entity for committing human rights violations against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees in occupied areas of Ukraine and in Russia. Lastly, restrictive measures were placed on 4 individuals and 5 entities for abuse of surveillance to restrict freedom of speech in Russia. 

Vereinigtes Königreich 

UK Agrees to Join EU’s €90 Billion Ukraine Support Loan 

• On July 13, the UK and EU signed an agreement to complete negotiations for British participation in the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. The agreement will allow Ukraine to purchase equipment from British defence manufacturers using the EU’s financing program.

• The UK will also make a contribution toward the loan’s borrowing costs proportionate to the contracts allotted to British companies. The agreement increases Ukraine’s pool of weapons suppliers and is one of the most significant post-Brexit defence financing arrangements between the UK and EU.

EAU UK Team: Legislative and Advocacy Updates

• EAU UK met with Ben Obese-Jecty MP in Westminster to press the case for sustained Parliamentary attention on Ukraine, continued UK support for Ukraine’s defence and resilience, and closer engagement between MPs and EAU’s UK network. The meeting also provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of connecting Ukraine’s battlefield experience with the UK’s defence, technology and industrial capabilities.

Read the full EAU Press Release hier

• EAU UK has also developed a new UK-wide engagement and advocacy tracker to support coordinated work across Parliament, the media, civil society, industry, Ukrainian communities and regional partners. This will help the UK team record contacts, track follow-up actions, identify opportunities and build a clearer national picture of where EAU can add value.

• EAU UK is also continuing to develop briefing material for MPs, local partners and media contacts. These materials will support a more consistent message: Ukraine’s defence is not only a matter of solidarity, but central to the future security of Europe and the United Kingdom.

Handeln Sie!

• Wenden Sie sich bezüglich der Durchsetzung von Sanktionen an Ihren Abgeordneten 

• Zusammenarbeit mit parteiübergreifenden parlamentarischen Arbeitsgruppen (APPGs)

• Nehmen Sie an den wöchentlichen Telefonkonferenzen des EAU UK-Teams teil, um zu erfahren, wie Sie die Unterstützung für die Ukraine verstärken können

Frankreich

Ukraine to Produce French Missiles and Bombs

• On July 13, French President Emmanuel Macron gave Ukraine permission to produce French-made “AASM precision-guided air-to-ground bombs, Aster air-defence ‌interceptor ⁠missiles and SCALP, [and] long-range air-launched cruise missiles,” (Reuters). The deal also includes radar systems. 

• The agreement came after Ukraine ordered next generation SAMP-T air defence ⁠systems and 16 Rafale fighter jets from France. 

• This is the first time that France has licensed production of their weapons to Ukraine. 

Coalition of the Willing

• Held in Paris starting on June 13, the Coalition of the Willing summit with 25 European leaders spearheaded by French President Macron as well as the UK Prime Minister and German Chancellor, built upon progress from the G7 Summit held in Evian in mid June. 

• The summit emphasized supporting Ukraine’s security and putting pressure on Russia’s war effort, including its “ghost fleet”, to secure lasting peace for Ukraine. 

• Discussions centered around the resources needed to help Ukraine defend itself and the necessity of unifying the shared knowledge of European countries to fortify their industrial cooperation. 

Presidential Candidate Mélenchon’s Speech

• Presidential candidate, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, gave a speech on June 17 at the opening of a symposium organized by the Institut La Boétie, a think tank affiliated with the La France Insoumise political party. 

• In the speech he reaffirmed the importance of having dialogue with Russia to secure peace for Ukraine, rather than sending in troops, and potentially renewing ties with Russia after the war to prevent future Russian military campaigns in Europe. 

• Mélenchon also expressed opposition towards integrating Ukraine into NATO and the EU due to his stance on non-alignment. With regards to LFI it is important to emphasize that Russia is waging a colonial war and Ukraine is fighting for its right to self-determination.

Updated Military Programming Law

• A revision of the 2024-2030 LPM, or Military Programming Law, has been approved by the joint committee (commission mixte paritaire). The revision will increase defense spending by €437 billion by 2030. It will also include a budget increase of €36 billion in extra spending for missiles, shells, drones, and anti-drone technologies to enact lessons learned from the war in Ukraine and in the Middle East. 

• The revised law was adopted by the French National Assembly on July 1st and is scheduled to be signed into law by President Macron on July 14th. 

• This is also significant because aid to Ukraine is partially funded through this programming law.

Special thanks to EAU’s CCEU team for their contributions to the previous two updates

SkyShield Petition 

• The SkyShield initiative is advocating for European leaders to provide more equipment such as radars and interceptor systems directly to Ukraine and organize aerial patrols in countries neighboring Ukraine to intercept missiles and drones targeting civilians. 

Sign/Read more hier

Handeln Sie!

• Die Mitglieder des Verteidigungsausschusses dazu bewegen, für Transparenz hinsichtlich der Liefertermine für französische Rüstungsgüter zu sorgen

• Nehmen Sie an den Bürgergesprächen (permanences parlementaires) teil, um dafür zu sorgen, dass die Unterstützung für die Ukraine in den französischen Haushalt 2027 aufgenommen wird

• Lokale Gebietskörperschaften für die Unterstützung der Ukraine mobilisieren

• Nehmen Sie an den wöchentlichen Telefonkonferenzen des EAU France-Teams teil, um zu erfahren, wie Sie die Unterstützung für die Ukraine verstärken können

Deutschland

Germany Reiterates Collective Support for Ukraine at Summit

• Following the Coalition of the Willing, Chancellor Merz gave a press statement reaffirming the five objectives made by the countries represented at the summit. The objectives include continuing to support Ukraine’s security even after a ceasefire, increasing assistance to Kyiv (pledging €70 billion in 2026 and 2027), coordinating European production in the defense industry, strengthening Ukraine’s infrastructure, and encouraging peace negotiations. 

Germany to Fund 50,000 Drones for Ukraine

• Germany is financing Ukraine with €90 million worth of first-person view drones. With this funding, Ukrainian drone firm SkyFall will make 50,000 strike drones equipped with autonomous targeting software from US-based company Auterion. 

• Some drones have reportedly been delivered to Ukraine and the rest are expected to come through later this year. 

• Reuters reported this deal as “one of the biggest known purchases of drones for Kyiv by a Western government.”

Germany’s 2027 Federal Budget Provides Additional Aid to Ukraine

• Germany’s cabinet approved the 2027 draft budget on July 6. The new budget will increase core defence spending from €82.2 billion in 2026 to €109 billion in 2027 .  Including support for Ukraine and additional security spending, the total reaches €130.1 billion.

• Germany has specifically approved €11.6 billion for Ukraine in 2027 and €8.5 billion each year from 2028 to 2030.

Pro-ukrainische Organisationen in Deutschland

• Heart for Ukraine is a Berlin-based aid initiative that supports people affected by Russia’s war through humanitarian assistance, art and fundraising events, and cultural and rehabilitation projects for war-traumatized communities in Ukraine. You can contribute by donating, attending or supporting its fundraising events, or contacting the organization about volunteer and partnership opportunities.

• The Ukrainian Institute in Germany is the first international representative office of the Ukrainian Institute and supports Ukraine by promoting Ukrainian film, music, literature, art, language, and scholarship while building cooperation between Ukrainian and German cultural institutions. Get involved by attending its exhibitions, performances, discussions, and other cultural programs, following its project calendar, or subscribing to its newsletter for upcoming opportunities.

• SIČ e.V. is a Ukrainian-German cultural center in Schwerin that helps Ukrainian families integrate into Germany while preserving their cultural identity through education, Ukrainian-language schooling, creative programs, community events, and psychological support. People can support its work by becoming members, making donations, participating in its courses and events, or contacting the center about community involvement.

Handeln Sie!

• Aufruf an den Haushaltsausschuss, die Hilfe für die Ukraine zu sichern

• Unterstützung lokaler Städtepartnerschaften

• Engagieren Sie sich durch Petitionen an den Bundestag 

• Nehmen Sie an den wöchentlichen Telefonkonferenzen des EAU-Deutschland-Teams teil, um zu erfahren, wie Sie die Unterstützung für die Ukraine verstärken können

Ukraine

Several European Countries Join Ukraine’s Anti-Ballistic Coalition  

• At the Coalition of the Willing summit, 9 European leaders from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK formed a coalition with Ukraine on July 13 to “build a shared ballistic missile defense capability for Europe,” (AP News). 

• Europe recognizes Ukraine’s experience with anti-ballistic missile technology and believes that a comprehensive solution towards deterring future ballistic missile threats will reinforce European security as modern warfare evolves. The defense program will complement existing ballistic missile defense systems including those that already have been or will be acquired by participating countries, according to the French government. 

• At this time, there is no set date as to when the defense system will be established and other countries are still able to join in the deal. 

Ukrainian Prime Minister Resigns

• After one year as Ukraine’s prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko stepped down on Sunday after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered her a new senior role as part of a broader government reshuffle.

• Zelenskyy is assigning specific individuals to key areas within foreign policy, and Svyrydenko will now handle Ukraine’s relationship with a vital international partner. 

• This is the fourth time that Zelenskyy has made a major rearrangement to the government during his presidency in hopes of reigniting momentum. 

U.S. Provides License to Make Patriot Missile Interceptors 

• At a NATO Summit in Ankara on June 8, U.S. President Donald Trump offered Ukraine the license to build patriot missile interceptors on its own to defend itself against Russia’s ballistic missiles. 

• President Zelenskyy confirmed that he asked President Trump for the license in late May. This request was likely due to the United State’s impaired ability to provide Ukraine with the amount of interceptors that they require to counter Russia’s offensive strikes. Additionally, patriots have lengthy production times and the U.S. has already used half of its stockpile in the Iran war despite producing 600 patriot missiles annually. 

• U.S. defense manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have yet to be informed. 

• Experts warn that even after the license has been secured, it could take a year or longer to start producing the missiles.