Zelenskyy reveals timeline for first €90B EU loan payment to Ukraine
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukraine expects to receive the first tranche of €90 billion from the EU by late May or early June. The funds will go toward the military, weapons production, and support for citizens, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells reporters.
Timelines and priorities
Zelenskyy emphasizes that Ukraine is doing everything possible to expedite the receipt of the first tranche.
"We will work to secure the first tranche we are counting on as quickly as possible so that we receive the funds by the end of May or early June," he says.
Funds will be used for:
- Support for the army
- Production of drones and electronic warfare systems
- Social assistance to citizens
- Possible purchases of scarce weapons from partners.
Sanctions against Russia
At the same time, Zelenskyy is insisting on the adoption of the 20th sanctions package against Russia.
"It is very important that the 20th sanctions package be unblocked so that we can work on the next sanctions, put pressure on the Russian energy sector, and put pressure on the shadow fleet," the President states.
According to him, Ukraine has fulfilled all of its commitments within the specified timeframes.
"That is why we are working on the next sanctions; we believe that everything will be unblocked. Ukraine has done everything it promised within the promised timeframes," Zelenskyy says.
As reported by RBC-Ukraine, EU ambassadors have already preliminarily agreed on a €90 billion loan and the parameters of the 20th sanctions package. The final decision was to be made on April 23 at the summit in Cyprus.
Meanwhile, on the night of April 23, Slovakia resumed receiving Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline for the first time in nearly three months. The resumption of transit through Ukraine was a key condition for Hungary and Slovakia to lift their block on the EU loan.
