EU has taken Ukraine’s current financial needs into account – Costa

European Council President António Costa acknowledged the European Union's awareness of Ukraine's current financial requirements during a press conference in Kyiv, following the Coalition of the Willing summit. When asked if the funds from the two-year loan could be released early, Costa stated that the European Commission had approved a new tranche under the Ukraine Support Loan.

While emphasizing the importance of meeting Ukraine's financial needs, Costa noted that discussion on this matter should be conducted with member states and the European Commission. He highlighted that the current focus is on delivering the €90 billion already committed by the EU. Costa also praised Ukraine's reform efforts as "impressive," especially in the context of the ongoing war, stating that even peaceful countries face challenges in carrying out such reforms.

When discussing the acceleration of Ukraine's accession process, Costa mentioned that it is difficult to imagine a faster pace given the current circumstances. The European Council president stressed that enlargement efforts must continue, stressing the importance of delivering on the EU's promise to successfully complete the enlargement process.

Costa reiterated that enlargement to Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans is a geopolitical priority for the European Union, with clear criteria that all candidate countries must meet. He emphasized that the EU and candidate countries must recognize the urgency of the process, requiring everyone to work harder and faster to meet the criteria and move forward.