Ukraine joins EU Civil Protection Mechanism

MOSCOW. April 21 (Interfax) - The European Commission announced on Thursday that Ukraine had officially joined the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism.

"Ukraine becomes a participating state of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism - the European solidarity framework," Ukrainian media quoted the European Commission as saying in a communique published in Brussels.

EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic signed an agreement in Kiev on Thursday on behalf of the EU granting Ukraine a full membership in the mechanism, according to the communique.

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been channeling emergency assistance to Ukraine from across Europe since February 2022. More than 88,000 tonnes of life-saving equipment, food and medicines have been sent to Ukraine via the mechanism.

Ukraine has officially become the 36th participating state of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Lenarcic and EU Ambassador to Ukraine Matti Maasikas said.