European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that she had a “productive meeting” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Ukraine’s progress towards eventual European Union (EU) membership.
“Productive meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. We discussed the progress made by Ukraine towards EU membership, as well as our continued support in the face of Russian aggression,” the head of the community executive wrote in a post on the social network X (formerly known like like Twitter).
productive meeting with @ZelenskyyUa
We discussed Ukraine’s progress on the road to the EU, as well as our continued support in the face of Russian aggression.
We will continue to work together to bring Ukrainian grain to world markets and provide economic assistance. pic.twitter.com/jwVItCjlyX
– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 22, 2023
In reporting on this face-to-face bilateral meeting, which took place in Athens on the sidelines of an informal dinner promoted by Greece with the leaders of the Western Balkans and attended by the Ukrainian president, Ursula von der Leyen, he also guaranteed that the EU it will continue to “work together to bring Ukrainian grain to world markets and provide economic assistance.”
On Tuesday, the European Commission paid another 1.5 billion euros to Ukraine under the macro-financial aid package, with a maximum value of 18 billion euros, to help the country meet its immediate financial needs, with stable financial support.
According to the information released by the institution, with the payment on Tuesday, Ukraine has so far received 12 billion euros this year within the framework of this macro-financial aid package.
These funds are intended to pay salaries and pensions and keep essential public services running, such as hospitals, schools and accommodation for displaced people, also allowing Ukraine to ensure macroeconomic stability and restore critical infrastructure destroyed by Russia during the war, such as infrastructure energy, water supply systems, transport networks, roads and bridges.
“We support Ukraine in its efforts to repair, recover and keep the state functioning,” Ursula von der Leyen wrote on the X social network, promising that, in addition to the amount mobilized this Tuesday, “more will come, this year and in the next following”.
Today’s payment follows the Commission’s assessment at the end of July that Ukraine is making good progress in implementing the agreed political conditions and meeting reporting requirements, which aim to ensure a transparent and efficient use of funds.
Specifically, according to Brussels, “Ukraine has made significant progress towards increasing financial stability, strengthening the rule of law, improving its gas system, fostering energy efficiency and promoting a better business climate.”
In June 2022, EU member states took a landmark decision to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, joining a broader group of countries, some of which have long been in the “waiting queue” ” to join the European bloc, without any progress. in recent years.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: TSF
