The EU today made the fourth payment of €1.5 billion from the 2023 Macroeconomic Financial Assistance package for Ukraine, totaling €18 billion.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said:

“Ukraine is fighting back bravely against Russia’s war of aggression. Europe continues to stand by this country. Since the beginning of this year, we have paid €7.5 billion in macro-financial assistance. This funding makes a significant contribution to meeting Ukraine’s immediate financial needs. And more will follow».

This support will help Ukraine continue to pay salaries and pensions and maintain the operation of essential public services, such as hospitals, schools and housing for displaced people.

It will also allow Ukraine to ensure macroeconomic stability and restore critical infrastructure destroyed by Russia in its war of aggression, such as energy infrastructure, water systems, transport networks, roads and bridges.

Today’s payment comes after the Commission found on 23 April that Ukraine continued to make satisfactory progress towards implementing agreed policy terms and complied with reporting requirements, which aim to ensure transparent and efficient use of the funds.

Ukraine has made particularly significant progress in strengthening the rule of law, strengthening financial stability, improving the functioning of the natural gas system and promoting a better business climate. This finding will also allow a further monthly payment of €1.5bn to be disbursed in June.

In total, since the start of the war, support for Ukraine and Ukrainians amounts to approximately 70 billion euros. This includes financial, humanitarian, emergency budget and military support to Ukraine from the EU, Member States and the European Financial Institutions, as well as resources available to help Member States meet the needs of Ukrainians fleeing the war .