Ukraine and the EU have agreed on a new statement regarding support and sanctions
Ukraine and the European Union have agreed on continued financial support, new sanctions against Russia, and the acceleration of Kyiv’s European integration process. Following the summit, the parties issued a joint statement confirming their commitment to long-term support for Ukraine. This involves not only financial aid but also a political decision to maintain pressure on Russia and pave the way for Ukraine’s EU membership.
This is stated in a joint statement following a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Council President António Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which was released following the talks.
The document states that the EU welcomes the approval of a financial instrument to support Ukraine in the amount of up to €90 billion for 2026–2027. These funds are intended to cover Ukraine’s urgent budgetary and defense needs, which will help maintain the country’s stability amid the war. “The loan to support Ukraine will ensure that its urgent budgetary and defense needs are met, enabling the country to remain resilient in the face of ongoing Russian attacks,” the statement reads.
Separately, the parties emphasized the importance of quickly launching this financial mechanism and expect the first tranche as early as the second quarter. The statement also calls on third countries to join in covering Ukraine’s financial needs.
European leaders welcomed the adoption of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. It is aimed at limiting Russia’s revenues from energy, financial transactions, and the so-called “shadow fleet,” which is used to circumvent sanctions. “The presidents emphasized the need to further increase pressure on Russia so that it ceases its aggression and begins constructive peace negotiations,” the text notes.
The statement also highlights Ukraine’s progress toward EU membership and calls for moving forward without delay to open negotiation clusters. The EU noted the reforms carried out by Ukraine even amid the war and supported the further advancement of this process.
A separate section of the statement is dedicated to financing under the Ukraine Facility program, which provides for additional macro-financial assistance in exchange for reforms.
The parties also reaffirmed their intention to support the restoration of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and preparations for the upcoming heating season. The statement separately emphasizes the importance of nuclear safety in Europe and the need to cease attacks on Ukrainian nuclear facilities.
The final section of the statement welcomes the international meeting on the return of Ukrainian children, scheduled to take place on May 11 in Brussels with the participation of Ukraine, the EU, and Canada.
On April 23, EU member states approved the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, which imposes restrictions on 46 vessels of the “shadow fleet” and 60 entities supporting the Russian military-industrial complex. The new measures include stricter export restrictions on dual-use goods and sanctions against 20 credit and financial institutions.
