Ukraine may get 4.5-bln-euro tranche in March

MOSCOW. Feb 19 (Interfax) - The European Commission is working to provide the first Ukraine Facility tranche of 4.5 billion euros to Kiev as early as in the first half of March, European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said.

"We are finalizing the legislative process in the European Parliament, as planned. We are working to provide the tranche as early as in the first half of March. If everything goes according to plan," Ukrainian media cited Dombrovskis as telling journalists on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference roundtable.

In his words, 4.5 billion euros will be provided as preliminary financing, and no terms are set for the first tranche.

At the same time, further Ukraine Facility funding will be linked to the implementation of the Ukraine Recovery Plan, which the Ukrainian government will finalize within weeks after the European Union gives the final approval to the Ukraine Facility, Dombrovskis said.

"The idea is that the plan needs to be coordinated with the European Commission, so that it serves as the basis for future tranches," Dombrovskis said.

Out of 50-billion-euro Ukraine Facility, 33 billion euros are assigned for macro-financial assistance as loans, while 17-billion-euro grants will focus on the restoration of Ukraine, he said.

As to whether Ukraine might receive 18-billion-euro macro-financial assistance as early as in 2024, which Kiev hopes for, Dombrovskis said, "This is what is still being discussed."