Ukraine expects to receive first tranche of EU's 2023 macro-financial assistance in Jan - finance minister

MOSCOW. Dec 15 (Interfax) - Ukraine welcomes the European Parliament's decision on Wednesday to approve a new macro-financial assistance package of 18 billion euros for Ukraine in 2023 and expects the Council of the EU to finally endorse this package soon, to be followed by required procedures and the drafting of all necessary documents, Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergei Marchenko said.

"We expect to receive the first tranche of 3 billion euros as soon as January," Ukrainian media quoted Marchenko as saying during Ukraine's national telethon on Wednesday.

It will be a long-term loan for more than 20 years at interest rates within the European Commission's risk limits, i.e. at around 3%-4% per annum based on the current rates, he said.