Dombrovskis, Zelensky discuss EU emergency financial support for Ukraine's further economic integration

MOSCOW. Nov 18 (Interfax) - European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis has discussed with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky the European Union's emergency financial assistance for Ukraine's further economic integration and the EU accession process.

"I reaffirmed EU's solidarity with Ukraine. We also discussed EU emergency financial support to further Ukraine's economic integration and EU accession process," Dombrovskis was quoted by Ukrainian media as saying on social media on Friday.

First tranche of macro-financial assistance for Ukraine in January

Dombrovskis said a little later that Ukraine would receive the first tranche of 18 billion euros of macro-financial assistance as early as in January 2023.

Dombrovskis was quoted by Ukrainian media as saying at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal in Kiev on Friday, that, as for 2023, the EU's goal was to cover a substantial part of Ukraine's financial deficit. He noted that as part of the macro-financial assistance, the EU would provide up to 18 billion euros.

He emphasized that this macro-financial assistance program would include some terms for obtaining the funding.

In particular, these are steps aimed at bolstering proper management, as well as combating corruption.

He noted that the parties needed to sign a memorandum of mutual understanding, for which the EU was waiting for the final approval of the program by EU lawmakers.

Dombrovskis expects the program to be approved in early December, which would enable the European Commission to provide the first tranche as early as in January 2023.

For his part, Shmygal said he hoped that this tranche would be earmarked in January.