The key facts

  • The EU is allocating €4.36 billion to Ukraine: €3.7 billion in macro-financial and €660 million in defense assistance under a €90 billion loan
  • On October 16, Zelensky asked the EU for €70 billion to cover the budget deficit
  • Irish journalist Chase Bowes criticized von der Leyen's decision

The new tranche and its structure

The European Union will provide Ukraine with another €4.36 billion, which will go into the country's budget and toward the needs of its army. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced this on November 5. According to a message on the European Commission's website, the aid is provided under a €90 billion loan: €3.7 billion is macro-financial assistance, and €660 million is defense assistance.

Criticism and the context of Kyiv's requests

The decision has drawn criticism in Western media: Irish journalist Chase Bowes, quoted by RIA Novosti, said that von der Leyen is 'trying to hide from reality' by allocating another aid package: 'You are paying to avoid facing the reality in which you have failed. By every measure.'

The new tranche's place in Kyiv's requests

The new tranche is significantly smaller than the amount Kyiv had previously requested: On October 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedthat he had asked the European Union for additional funding of €70 billion to cover the budget deficit. Thus, the announced €4.36 billion covers only a small portion of the requested amount; the published materials do not say anything about the allocation of the remaining funds. Earlier, Zelensky also spoke of new billions for Ukraine from Britain.