EC insists on linking all European disbursements for Ukraine to Kiev's reforms
BRUSSELS. Sept 29 (Interfax) - The European Commission is aware of the difficult situation of Ukraine but still reminds Kiev that macro-financial assistance and other European disbursements are linked to the fulfillment of the reform program, European Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said at a press briefing in Brussels on Tuesday.
He was asked about options under consideration to give financial assistance to Ukraine in 2026 and 2027 in the light of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's statement on a $27-billion gap in the 2026 defense budget of Ukraine.
"I would have three key messages on this today. First, Ukraine needs to continue to reform. Second, our international partners need to step up to the plate with concrete pledges, and third, we have to start gearing up for 2027," he said.
Speaking of the 90-billion-euro loan, the EU has disbursed 15 billion euros to Ukraine versus the 45-billion-euro target for 2026, he said.
"So, that's a substantial gap and what we need to do is to focus on getting to the 45. But in that regard it's important that Ukraine continues to pursue reforms and of course we know it's a very difficult situation there. [...] But at the same time there is a jointly agreed reform agenda with very concrete reforms which are tied especially to the macrofinancial assistance program and the Ukraine Facility, and these need to be pursued These need to be implemented in order for us to be able to make additional disbursements. That is our focus in terms of financial support for Ukraine this year," Ujvari said.
He added that even if the EU provides the 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine this and next year, the deficit of about 45 billion euros would remain. "That's where our international partners come in. We regularly raise the issue with them, be it in the context of G7, G20. [...] We already have seen a good example from Norway putting forward $9 billion. That's a very good example. This is the path. This is what we expect our other partners to do as well as soon as possible," he said.
"And finally, we are getting close to the end of the year, so it's time to look at next year. We need to agree on what we call the financial strategy. This is a document that will determine how much money will be disbursed via the three channels of the $90 billion loans of the macro financial assistance program, Ukraine Facility, and the defense leg," Ujvari said.
The European Commission is in talks with Ukraine, he said. "And the sooner we have this document, the final version from Ukraine, the better it is. We can go ahead and adopt it, and that will give predictability as regards next year," Ujvari said.
