Ukraine: EU to give US$18 billion to Kyiv next year to help run country
- EU’s 27 leaders discussed supporting Ukraine during a summit on the 240th day of Russia’s war on its neighbour
- ‘It is very important for Ukraine to have a predictable and stable flow of income,’ EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said
The European Union will give Kyiv 1.5 billion euros (about US$1.5 billion) a month in 2023 to help run Ukraine as it fights back Russia’s invading troops, the head of the bloc’s executive said on Friday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke after the 27 national EU leaders discussed supporting Ukraine during a second day of their summit in Brussels on Friday, the 240th day of Russia’s war on its neighbour.
She said that the EU has so far given Ukraine US$19 billion this year but that the summit looked at 2023.
“It is very important for Ukraine to have a predictable and stable flow of income,” she said, adding that Kyiv estimated its monthly needs at 3-4 billion euros “for the basics”.
Sporting a lapel pin in Ukraine’s yellow and blue, von der Leyen told a news conference the EU would finance 1.5 billion euros per month of that, with the rest expected to come from the United States and international institutions.
“That will give a total of 18 billion for the next year – an amount Ukraine can count on and where there is a stable and reliable, predictable flow of income.”