BRUSSELS — European Union countries have agreed on how to release €6.6 billion ($7.5 billion) that had been frozen for more than three years, money tied to military aid for Ukraine. Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, announced the agreement on Friday, 25 September 2026, according to Reuters, Euronews, the Kyiv Independent, Anadolu Agency and France 24. Ukraine has been fighting a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022, and European countries have been among its main suppliers of weapons and military training.

Where the money comes from

The money sits in the European Peace Facility, a fund that EU countries pay into. Despite the name, it is used for military help. It pays for weapons and training for countries outside the EU, and it repays EU governments for military equipment they have already given away, Reuters reported. The fund is separate from the EU's regular budget, and EU countries pay into it directly.

Why it was frozen

Decisions about this fund need the agreement of every EU country, so a single government can block them. That is what happened. Starting in spring 2023, Hungary, then led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, used its veto to stop the money from being paid out, Euronews reported. Reuters also said the funds were blocked by the previous Hungarian government. In April 2026, Péter Magyar replaced Orbán as prime minister. Since then, EU countries have worked out the terms for releasing the money, Euronews and France 24 reported.

What was agreed

The agreement was reached in the EU's Political and Security Committee, a body in Brussels made up of an ambassador from each EU country that handles foreign and security policy, Euronews reported. It is a political agreement, meaning the countries have agreed on the terms. Several legal documents still have to be formally adopted before any money is actually paid out, Euronews said.

Kallas set out how the money will be divided in a post on the social media site X, as reported by all five outlets. €900 million will go to the EU's military assistance mission, which trains Ukrainian soldiers. €1 billion will pay for new weapons and equipment bought jointly by EU countries, which lets them buy in bulk. The remaining €4.7 billion will repay EU countries for military aid they have already provided. Some countries have said they will pass their repayment on to Ukraine, Kallas said. The Kyiv Independent named Germany and Sweden among them.

How much of the money will end up helping Ukraine directly is not yet clear, Reuters reported, because each government decides for itself what to do with its repayment.

"That's good news for Ukraine and bad news for Russia," Kallas said. "Moscow's hybrid attacks try to intimidate Europe into scaling back its support for Ukraine. Europe is doing the opposite." Hybrid attacks are hostile actions that stop short of open war, such as sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns.

What happens next

The legal documents releasing the money still have to be adopted. EU defence ministers meet in Brussels on 28 September, and the Kyiv Independent said more countries could announce there that they will pass their repayments on to Ukraine.

Floor: Reuters, Euronews, Kyiv Independent, Anadolu Agency and France 24, 25 Sep 2026: EU member states reach a political agreement on terms for releasing €6.6 billion ($7.5 billion) from the European Peace Facility, linked to military aid for Ukraine; announced by Kaja Kallas. Split: €900 million for the EU military assistance mission that trains Ukraine’s forces; €1 billion for new joint procurement; €4.7 billion to reimburse member states (some, including Germany and Sweden per the Kyiv Independent, say they will pass their share to Ukraine). Several legal acts must be adopted before money is released (Euronews). Funds stalled since spring 2023 by a Hungarian veto under Viktor Orbán (Euronews; Reuters). Unclear how much directly benefits Ukraine; governments decide how to use their refunds (Reuters). Kallas: “That’s good news for Ukraine and bad news for Russia.”