Ukraine to Receive $1.6 Billion from EU in Second Installment of Financial Aid

A European Commission official announced on April 17 that the second tranche of EU macro-financial assistance, totaling 1.5 billion euros, will be provided to Ukraine next week. In February 2024, the EU approved the Ukraine Facility, a four-year program allocating 33 billion euros in loans and 17 billion euros in grants. The first tranche of 4.5 billion euros was disbursed to Ukraine on March 20.

During the U.S.-Ukraine Partnership Forum in Washington on April 17, Gert-Jan Koopman, the director general of the European Commission for Neighborhood Affairs and Enlargement Negotiations, confirmed the upcoming arrival of the second tranche. Meanwhile, in another part of Washington, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held discussions with U.S. business leaders, emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation and the necessity for additional support to counteract adversaries.

The meeting took place on the day of Russia’s missile strike on Chernihiv, resulting in the loss of 18 lives. Shmyhal underscored the significance of strengthening Ukrainian defense sector in light of such threats. “I thanked American companies for continuing to work and invest in Ukraine,” Shmyhal wrote, adding: “This helps us to be resilient and continue to fight for our country.”