The loan corresponds to almost 400 billion Swedish kronor and is to be paid back in the long run through the returns on the Russian central bank billions that have been frozen on European accounts – a total of around 280 billion euro.
This loan will flow directly into your national budget and give you significant and much-needed economic leeway. You will decide for yourselves how to best use the money, with full flexibility, says von der Leyen at a press conference together with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj.
Part of G7 promise
The billion loan is the EU's part of a previously given promise together with the G7 countries in June of 50 billion euro to Ukraine. Originally, it was intended that the EU and the USA would stand for approximately equal parts of the loan, which however got stuck due to demands from the USA for further European sanctions – which have not yet been implemented.
Now, however, von der Leyen hopes that the green light for the 35 billion can quickly be obtained from the EU Parliament and the EU member states, among other things thanks to the fact that no full agreement is required, but only support from a qualified majority of the countries.
We are convinced that we can deliver quickly, says von der Leyen in Kiev.
Winter aid
The EU chief's words follow promises already made on Thursday of approximately two billion kronor in immediate fresh aid to help Ukraine through the winter.
"My eighth visit to Kiev takes place as the heating season is about to begin and Russia continues to target energy infrastructure. We will help Ukraine in its brave efforts", she writes on X.
