European Council approves over Rs 74K cr in financial aid for Ukraine amid war with Russia

 European Council, on Friday, approved 9 billion euros (over Rs 74,000 crore) of financial aid to Kyiv as Russian-Ukraine war entered day 122. As  Euro summit concluded,  final communiqué stated, " European Council notes that European Commission will soon present a proposal for new exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine of up to nine billion euros in 2022". ditionally, European Council also called on Commission to produce its proposals for European Union's support for Ukraine's development.

approval by European Council came this week after, on May 31,  President of European Council, Charles Michel h announced that EUCO will continue helping Ukraine with its immediate liquidity needs, toger with G7. He called EUCO's grant of EUR 9 billion a strong and concrete support for Ukraine's reconstruction. He noted that EUCO will continue helping Ukraine with its immediate liquidity needs, toger with G7. 

Earlier, on Thursday, European Union (EU) gave a go-ahe to war-torn nation toward membership in bloc. Acting with uncharacteristic speed and unity to pull Ukraine away from Russian influence amid Moscow-Kyiv war, 27-nation-bloc mustered required unanimous approval to grant Ukraine candidate status, which has set in motion a membership process, which is expected to take years or even deces. 

'Ukrainians belong to Europe'

After getting bloc's candidacy status, Ukrainian Defence Minister Dmytro Kuleba also said in a video dress along with European Union Commission Vice President Josep Borrell that "Ukrainians belong to European family". High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, declared, “Ukraine will prevail. Europe will prevail” following momentous step by 27-nation bloc. Borrell also said that granting candidacy to Ukraine “marks beginning of a long journey that we will walk toger.” President of European Council, Charles Michel, also joined celebration and noted, "Our future is toger". 

ditionally, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also called Thursday (June 23) a “good day for Europe”. Referring to duration of Russia-Ukraine war and deces since Ukraine became independent following split of Soviet Union, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “It’s a victory. We have been waiting for 120 days and 30 years…And now we will defeat enemy.”  

Ukrainian Defence Minister Dmytro Kuleba also said in a video dress along with European Union Commission Vice President Josep Borrell that "Ukrainians belong to European family". 

(Image: AP)