President von der Leyen unveils new defence partnership with Kyiv
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled to Kyiv on 15 July to sign a new defence partnership and receive the inaugural Order of Europe.
By Europa Express17 Jul 2026 · 12:00 CETUpdated 17 Jul 2026 · 12:00 CET
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⚡ EXECUTIVE DISPATCH BRIEFVerified · Security
Core Briefing: President von der Leyen unveils new defence partnership with Kyiv
Strategic Context: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled to Kyiv on 15 July to sign a new defence partnership and receive the inaugural Order of Europe.
Fact Checking & Evidence: Documented status is verified across primary accredited European reporting wires and official filings.
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According to the European Commission, President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on 15 July for her eleventh wartime visit to Ukraine. During the trip, she was awarded the inaugural Order of Europe and officially unveiled a new defence partnership between the European Union and Ukraine.
President von der Leyen stated that Ukraine has become a net security provider for Europe. The announcement follows the official press release issued by the European Commission on 17 July 2026.