According to Josep Borrell, a leading EU diplomat, the 27 European Union member states have decided to deliver additional 500 million euros in military aid to Ukraine.
As Russia prepares for a new attack in Ukraine’s east, Borrell said stronger military backing from the EU was critical. “The coming weeks will be pivotal,” he added.
It is the third package of military aid that the EU has agreed to give to Ukraine to help it defend itself against the Russian invasion, bringing the total amount of military aid provided to Ukraine to 1.5 billion euros.
However, the EU declared two prior tranches of military aid, each totaling 500 million euros, in February and March, marking a historic first for the bloc in arming a non-EU member under attack.
– The EU will assist Ukrainian refugees in converting their money –
The European Union voted on Wednesday to make it simpler for Ukrainian refugees to access their currencies by enabling them to swap hundreds of euros worth of local hryvnia banknotes for free.
The European Council announced that ambassadors from member states had backed its suggestion on the conversion of hryvnia banknotes, with the initiative set to be formally adopted and implemented next Tuesday.
Many of the 4.6 million Ukrainians who have fled their war-torn country since Russia’s invasion have struggled to get their hands on the EU currency, as many European banks refuse to take the hryvnia.
The war has wreaked havoc on the Ukrainian economy, causing the country’s central bank to restrict the exchangeability of the hryvnia in order to protect its dollar and euro reserves.
In a statement, the council said, “The recommendation asks member states to establish national schemes that would allow for the conversion of hryvnias under similar conditions across the EU.”
People evacuated from Ukraine, including children, would be able to exchange up to 10,000 hryvnias (310 euros, $340) for local money in EU countries for free.
The transactions should be based on an official exchange rate published by Ukraine’s central bank, and the system should be in place for at least three months, according to the statement.
“The goal is to provide additional assistance to refugees who are experiencing trouble exchanging their banknotes into EU currency,” the document stated.
In addition, the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, recommended a weekly allowance of 40 euros for each person evacuated from Ukraine seeking shelter in the 27-nation bloc – for up to 13 weeks.
The EU has already granted Ukrainians temporary protection status for up to three years, allowing them to live, work, and access housing, education, and healthcare within the union.
NAN/AFP
