European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about plans for a new aid package for Ukraine worth up to €18 billion. The European Commission explained that it plans to present the package, to be divided into monthly tranches of €1.5 billion each, in Brussels next week.
The preferential loans should make a “significant contribution” to Kiev’s financial needs by 2023. The funds would also support Ukraine in pursuing further reforms on its way to EU membership, it said.
No rapid EU accession
Selenskyj only explained on Twitter that he had spoken with von der Leyen about financial support for the current and coming year. Another topic was the importance of grain deliveries from Ukraine via the Black Sea to support global food security.
The EU commission, meanwhile, tempered expectations of Ukraine’s official accession candidate for early admission to the international community. “Given the extensive work required to prepare for participation in the EU’s internal market and many other important policy areas, the entire preparation for accession will most likely take longer than a year or two,” said EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi against the “Welt”.
The minister still insists on a quick procedure
According to the newspaper, the Ukrainian minister of Europe, Olha Stefanischyna, on the other hand, is pushing for an accelerated procedure. “Our neighbors and the Baltic States, countries that are among our biggest supporters, have already indicated that rapid accession is possible,” says Stefanischyna.
Ukraine was only granted candidate status to the EU in June, along with neighboring Moldova. Many governments and citizens are skeptical about admitting even more states to the European Union. The rapprochement talks with the states of the Western Balkans have been extremely slow for years.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
