European Commission president confirms disbursement from 90-bln-euro loan to Ukraine this quarter

BRUSSELS. April 29 (Interfax) - The first 45-billion-euro tranche from the 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine will be paid by the end of this quarter, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

"In spring, we said that we would deliver on the 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine one way or the other. Now we made good on this promise. We will disperse the first tranche of 45 billion euros for 2026 still this quarter. One third for budgetary needs, and two thirds go to Ukraine's defense," she said.

"The first defense package will be on drones from Ukraine to Ukraine worth some 6 billion euros," von der Leyen said.

She assured European Parliament members that the European Union would continue to support Kiev.

The Council of the European Union decided on April 23 to give a 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine in 2026-2027. It said the decision would enable the European Commission to start making the payments in the second quarter of 2026.