EU names date for first tranches of €90 billion loan to Ukraine
Illustrative photo: the first funds from the EU could arrive as early as April (Getty Images)
Ukraine could receive the first tranche of the European Union’s €90 billion loan as early as the beginning of April, according to a statement by EU Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis on X.
"We’re working toward approval of a €90bn package for 2026–27, aiming for the first disbursement in early April," the statement follows.
EU loan depends on IMF agreement
The €90 billion EU loan will be disbursed on the condition that Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund agree on a new IMF program. The government expects to receive part of the funds as early as April; otherwise, covering the budget gap could become problematic.
However, the release of the funds remains uncertain due to two IMF conditions, the introduction of taxes on parcels and digital platforms. In addition, the authorities are seeking changes to VAT requirements for sole proprietors, as they disagree with the Fund’s terms.
Sources among officials say the main sticking point at present concerns taxes on digital platforms and parcels.
€90 billion EU loan for Ukraine
Recently, the European Commission presented a plan to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan, which was agreed upon at an EU summit in mid-December.
Of this amount, €30 billion is earmarked for budget support, while €60 billion is intended for Ukraine’s defense needs. On January 21, the European Parliament approved the agreement.
At the same time, the EU has seen disagreements over granting the €90 billion loan to Kyiv. The dispute centers on whether Ukraine should be allowed to use the funds to purchase weapons from the US, as well as how loan servicing and lender compensation should be allocated.
In addition, several European countries are calling for non-EU states to be required to pay a commission when signing contracts with Ukraine that would be financed using the €90 billion loan.
