President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has announced her visit to Kyiv to discuss with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy the European Union’s support for Ukraine’s energy security ahead of winter.
The statement was made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday in Brussels at a joint press conference with International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol.
“The heating season will start in two weeks. As the temperature drops, the European Union is ready to step up its support for Ukraine. We are preparing for the winter together.
After this press conference, I will go to Kyiv to discuss these issues with President Zelensky tomorrow,” she said.
Head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has confirmed the allocation of EUR 18 billion to Ukraine in 2023.
“Last night we were able to agree on 18 billion euros for the year, 1.5 billion every month is a constant flow of funds into the budget,” she said on Tuesday, speaking at the conference “Solidarity with the Ukrainian people,” which is being held on Tuesday in Paris, chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The European Investment Bank (EIB), with the support of the EU budget, has approved funding for Ukraine in the amount of EUR1.59 billion, of which EUR1 billion will be provided immediately, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said.
“The EIB, with EU budget support, approved EUR1.59 billion of financing for Ukraine, with EUR1 billion to be released immediately. It will help rebuild infrastructure and resume services. And support energy, transport and education projects for the future,” she said on Twitter.
“This is the second package of support for Ukraine under the EIB Ukraine solidarity urgent response developed in close cooperation with the European Commission. It follows an emergency support package of EUR668 million fully disbursed within a month of the war’s beginning. Like the first one, this new financing is offered at favorable terms including long tenors,” the EIB said on its website.
“Immediate financial assistance will total EUR1.05 billion. This will consist of upfront disbursements under eight existing finance contracts. It will help the Ukrainian government to cover priority short-term financing needs, provide support to strategic state-owned companies, ensure urgent repairs of damaged infrastructure, resume the provision of disrupted municipal services, and support urgent energy and energy efficiency measures in preparation for the cold season,” the report says.
“The second block will be resuming implementation of EIB-financed projects in Ukraine totaling EUR540 million where possible, excluding areas of active hostilities and territories not controlled by the Ukrainian government. The selected projects will cover energy, energy efficiency, roads, transport, education and infrastructure, as well as reconstruction and recovery programs. The exact timing of these disbursements will depend on the state of advancement of underlying projects,” the release reads.
“The European Commission will keep working with EU member states and our international partners to support Ukraine on every level — for as long as it takes,” Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commission Executive Vice President, said.
“To rebuild Ukraine, we need strong global support and growing financial assistance. I am grateful to the EIB and the European Union for the long-standing cooperation and financial support and for standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Finance Minister of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko said.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said she had arrived in Kyiv and intended to meet with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Good to be back in Kyiv. With President Volodymyr Zelensky I will take stock of the joint work needed for reconstruction and of the progress made by Ukraine on its European path,” she said on Twitter.
Ukraine occupies an important place in the discussions of the leaders of the G7 countries, said President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
“Ukraine is high on our common agenda. The G7 supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and stands ready to assist in its reform efforts. Ukraine needs strong institutions acting based on the rule of law,” she wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he hopes for close and fruitful cooperation with new European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “My sincere congratulations to Ursula von der Leyen on her appointment as the first female President of the European Commission. I wish you every success and look forward to working with you in close cooperation to develop further strong Ukraine-EU relations,” he said on Twitter.
According to earlier reports, members of the European Parliament voted in support of Ursula von der Leyen’s candidacy for the post of European Commission president in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
