Brussels [Belgium], the European Union, on Thursday disbursed 1.9 billion euros to Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.
European Union President Ursula von der Leyen said the Ukraine Fund fund aims to keep the Ukrainian state functioning while it "fights for freedom."
She also called the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine a "historic moment" and said kyiv will find its "rightful place" in the Union.
"Dear @ZelenskyyUa, the opening of accession negotiations was a historic moment. You will find your rightful place in our Union. Today we disbursed a new 1.9 billion euros under the Ukraine Facility. To keep the Ukrainian State functioning while fighting for freedom," the EU head posted on X.
https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/1806312628156764629
Earlier on Tuesday, the EU began accession talks with both Ukraine and Moldova after receiving the go-ahead from the bloc's member states last week, Al Jazeera reported.
The agreement of the bloc's 27 members was reached last week, despite Hungary's efforts to block the measure.
However, there is no guarantee that the talks will ultimately lead to EU membership, as Turkey and several Western Balkan states have spent years in the accession process.
In particular, the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine has reinvigorated the EU's efforts to expand its membership, much to Moscow's chagrin.
Ukraine submitted its bid to join the bloc immediately after the invasion in February 2022. Neighboring Moldova followed closely behind.
"These are truly historic moments. Ukraine is and will always be part of a united Europe," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said as the bloc's members approved the start of talks.
"Millions of Ukrainians, and indeed generations of our people, are realizing their European dream," he added.
The start of accession talks has started a process of assessing the extent to which countries' laws already meet EU standards and how much work remains to be done. The EU must then start setting the conditions for negotiations on 35 issues, from taxation to environmental policy.
According to Al Jazeera, progress towards the next step seems unlikely in the next six months, when Hungary holds the rotating EU presidency.
European Union President Ursula von der Leyen said the Ukraine Fund fund aims to keep the Ukrainian state functioning while it "fights for freedom."
She also called the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine a "historic moment" and said kyiv will find its "rightful place" in the Union.
"Dear @ZelenskyyUa, the opening of accession negotiations was a historic moment. You will find your rightful place in our Union. Today we disbursed a new 1.9 billion euros under the Ukraine Facility. To keep the Ukrainian State functioning while fighting for freedom," the EU head posted on X.
https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/1806312628156764629
Earlier on Tuesday, the EU began accession talks with both Ukraine and Moldova after receiving the go-ahead from the bloc's member states last week, Al Jazeera reported.
The agreement of the bloc's 27 members was reached last week, despite Hungary's efforts to block the measure.
However, there is no guarantee that the talks will ultimately lead to EU membership, as Turkey and several Western Balkan states have spent years in the accession process.
In particular, the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine has reinvigorated the EU's efforts to expand its membership, much to Moscow's chagrin.
Ukraine submitted its bid to join the bloc immediately after the invasion in February 2022. Neighboring Moldova followed closely behind.
"These are truly historic moments. Ukraine is and will always be part of a united Europe," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said as the bloc's members approved the start of talks.
"Millions of Ukrainians, and indeed generations of our people, are realizing their European dream," he added.
The start of accession talks has started a process of assessing the extent to which countries' laws already meet EU standards and how much work remains to be done. The EU must then start setting the conditions for negotiations on 35 issues, from taxation to environmental policy.
According to Al Jazeera, progress towards the next step seems unlikely in the next six months, when Hungary holds the rotating EU presidency.
