European Commission disburses first tranche of aid to Ukraine

The European Commission has released a first tranche of 3.2 billion euros in financial assistance to Ukraine, marking the commencement of a 90 billion euro support package for 2026–2027. This disbursement is part of a total macro-financial assistance plan of 8.35 billion euros scheduled for 2026, with further payments of 3.7 billion euros expected in September and 1.45 billion euros slated for later in the year, contingent upon policy reforms. To qualify for these funds, Ukraine met seven reform benchmarks, specifically regarding tax collection and digital platform taxation. Additionally, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a separate 6 billion euro tranche for defense and drone procurement expected in the coming days. The support structure follows six months of negotiations, during which EU leaders opted for joint borrowing rather than utilizing frozen Russian assets. Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic secured partial exemptions from the agreement. European Council President Antonio Costa noted that total EU aid to Ukraine has surpassed 200 billion euros since 2022.