On photo: Vladimir Zelensky
AsEuropean Pravda‘s sources have learned, the exact date when the first funds will be disbursed is still unknown, as it is preceded by a number of other procedures. First of all, Ukraine has to open a special bank account in the EU, namely in Germany’s Deutsche Bundesbank.
In general, this procedure should have taken several months, but Ukraine and Germany agreed to speed up the process. In addition, Kiev should grant the EU the rights to monitor expenditures from the said account.
The EU also said that Kiev is already able to sign contracts for arms supplies and pay for them with the funds it has already received, as the terms of the loan allow financing military orders made since January this year.
As it became known earlier, the first defense tranche will be used to purchase drones manufactured in Ukraine. The schedule for the next disbursements of the “military” part of the loan has not yet been approved, but they should happen faster. According to European Pravda, the next package may include ammunition, drones and air defense equipment. There are no conditions for receiving defense funds, unlike the “financial” part of the EU loan.
On April 23, the EU Council adopted by written procedure amendments to the EU’s long-term budget for 2021-27, which will allow for a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine in 2026-27.
