19 May 2022 14:31

European Commission president, Zelensky discuss EU plan for Ukraine rebuilding

BRUSSELS. May 19 (Interfax) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the European Union's plan for rebuilding Ukraine presented on Wednesday.

"Good phone call with [Ukrainian President] Volodymyr Zelensky. We discussed step by step the EU's plan for relief and reconstruction in Ukraine put forward yesterday by the European Commission," von der Leyen said on Twitter.

The EU will provide more macro-financial assistance to Ukraine soon, she said.

The European Commission earlier announced plans for urgent assistance to Ukraine on eliminating the shortage of funding, on more long-term measures to rebuild the country, and also on the possible creation of a fund to fulfil these plans.

The European Commission's Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said the EU in the more long-term perspective will head up large international financial efforts to rebuild Ukraine, working with partners such as the G7, international financial institutions and in close cooperation with Ukraine.

On Wednesday, von der Leyen said on Twitter that the EU is "proposing new macro-financial assistance for Ukraine of up to 9 billion euros in 2022,"

The European Commission said the International Monetary Fund had assessed the deficit of Ukraine's balance of payments until June at some 14.3 billion euro ($15 billion).