EU disburses 2.8 bln euros to Kiev - statement

BRUSSELS. June 8 (Interfax) - The European Commission said on Monday that it was disbursing almost 2.8 billion euros "to support Ukraine's financial stability and reform efforts."

"Ukraine's speed and commitment to delivering meaningful reforms has merited this payment, and we are now also paving the way for further progress in the accession negotiations," European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said.

A European Commission statement said, for its part, that these approximately 2.8 billion euros were the seventh disbursement from the Ukraine Facility, "the EU's key instrument to support Ukraine's recovery, reform agenda and progress towards EU membership."

With this latest disbursement included, the total amount of EU support provided under the Ukraine Facility reaches 29.5 billion euros, or almost 77% of the funding available under the Facility's first component that gives direct assistance to the state budget, the statement said.

The disbursement will cover Ukraine's financial needs and support public administration amid the ongoing hostilities, it said.