AP / TASS
The delay in allocating European money to Ukraine came amid an intensified dispute within the European Union over the EU’s long-term budget for 2028-2034, as well as disagreements over the model of Ukraine’s integration into the EU, which would suit its members and would not be rejected by Kiev.
The implementation of the political decision agreed by the EU members to grant Ukraine a €90bn loan at the very last moment has encountered obstacles, making it impossible for Ukraine to receive the first tranche of €9.1bn soon.
European Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari told a briefing in Brussels on June 1. “As for the loan agreement, the Ukrainian side still has to finalize a number of technical and procedural stages. After that, the European Commission will decide whether the EC’s requirements have been met.
The idea was to transfer €9.1 billion to Ukraine during June. Of this money, €5.9 billion will be used for military needs, primarily for drones, and another €3.2 billion for budgetary needs,” the EC spokesman said, making it clear that Brussels does not yet have a clear idea of the timeframe for finalizing the necessary agreements with Kiev. “We have yet to verify whether the conditions are in place for the disbursement of the first tranche under the macro-financial assistance program for Ukraine,” he added.
Brussels also insists that the allocated funds for military needs should be used by Ukraine as a priority to purchase drones from European manufacturers, and only if the necessary weapons cannot be supplied by them, other partner countries would become suppliers.
