Zelenskyy: Unblocking €90 billion is signal for Russia to end war
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Unblocking EU financial support, together with new sanctions, should increase pressure on Russia, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his post on X.
According to him, the implementation of agreements with the EU has effectively already begun, including the unblocking of a €90 billion support package for Ukraine over two years, as well as a new package of sanctions against Russia.
"The unblocking is the right signal under the current circumstances. Russia must end its war. And the incentives for that can arise only when both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia are sufficient," Zelenskyy wrote.
He stressed that Ukraine is fulfilling its commitments to the European Union, "even on such sensitive issues as the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline," and expects corresponding steps from its partners.
"We expect that the European side will also deliver what is needed for the real protection of lives and for advancing Ukraine’s full European integration," the President added.
At the same time, Kyiv expects the swift launch of the support package and continues talks with European leaders on opening new clusters as part of its EU integration.
Zelenskyy also noted that Ukraine is working to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and to develop Europe’s energy system in order to limit Moscow’s ability to "manipulate energy supplies to Europe."
EU ambassadors have preliminarily approved a €90 billion loan program for Ukraine, along with the 20th package of sanctions against Russia.
The final decision is to be adopted through a written procedure of the European Council, expected to be completed tomorrow in the second half of the day, when European leaders gather for an EU summit in Cyprus.
Funding is expected to begin as early as May.
