A major EU meeting on Cyprus pledged decisive financial and military support to Ukraine, with immediate steps and a potential first tranche arriving this quarter.
The more Russia intensifies its aggression, the more the European Union will intensify its support for Ukraine. This stance was voiced by Ursula von der Leyen after meeting with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and the President of the European Council António Costa in Cyprus, where they discussed further steps to support Ukraine.
Key EU Messages
“Today is a good day for Ukraine and for Europe”
– Ursula von der Leyen
Addressing President Zelensky, she reminded of the pledge made during her visit to Ukraine in February that the EU would provide a loan of 90 billion euros “one way or another”.
“One way or another the EU will provide a loan of 90 billion euros”
– Ursula von der Leyen
“And today we are delivering on this pledge. A large part of the preparatory work for implementing the 90-billion-euro loan has already been completed,” said the President of the European Commission.
“And today we are delivering on this pledge. Most of the preparatory work for implementing the 90-billion-euro loan has already been completed”
– Ursula von der Leyen
She noted that the first tranche of 45 billion euros, allocated for 2026, could be received “as early as this quarter”.
“As early as this quarter”
– Ursula von der Leyen
“We agreed on one third of the loan for budgetary funds and two thirds of the loan for defense,” von der Leyen said, adding that the first package would finance a Ukrainian drone manufacturer.
“We agreed on one third of the loan for budgetary funds and two thirds of the loan for defense”
– Ursula von der Leyen
She also reminded of today’s approval of the 20th sanctions package: “In other words, the more Russia intensifies its aggression, the more Europe will intensify its support for Ukraine”.
“In other words, the more Russia intensifies its aggression, the more Europe will intensify its support for Ukraine”
– Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Council António Costa believes that after unlocking the 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine and approving the 20th sanctions package against Russia, the next step will be the opening of the first cluster of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
President Zelensky is today taking part in an informal meeting of the European Council on Cyprus after the unlocking of the 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine and approval of the 20th sanctions package against Russia.
In conclusion, the development of dialogue between the EU and Ukraine will remain a priority in countering Russian aggression and strengthening security in the European region.