The European Union has released €2.3 billion in financial aid to Ukraine to support urgent social and civil infrastructure needs. According to political analyst Orkhan Nabiyev, this move reflects the EU’s assessment that a peace deal with Russia is unlikely in the near future.
Speaking to AnewZ from Baku, Nabiyev emphasised the critical timing of the assistance.
“Each aid [package] goes towards keeping Ukraine on their foot, it’s very critical," he stated.
He explained that the €2.3 billion package is intended to cover social needs, including pensions and salaries, as well as repair of civil infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks.
This €2.3 billion tranche was formally released on 22 December as the sixth regular payment under the EU’s Ukraine Facility, a financial instrument launched on 1 March 2024 to provide up to €50 billion in support for Ukraine’s recovery, reforms, reconstruction and modernisation through 2027.
According to Nabiyev the funding also helps stabilise Ukraine’s state functions, enabling pensions, salaries, and essential public services to continue despite the ongoing war.
He also mentioned that the €90 billion to Ukraine will "help Ukraine to stand against the Russian occupation for one or two years."
This comment follows EU leaders' decision, on 18-19 December, to loan €90 billion to Ukraine for the country's financing needs in 2026 and 2027.
Specifically the loan is structured as interest‑free support to help sustain Kyiv’s defence and budgetary needs over the next two years.
Despite initial plans to fund such support directly from frozen Russian assets, EU members opted instead for joint borrowing on financial markets.
Nabiyev stressed that the biggest expectation of Russian President Vladimir Putin is "that Ukraine will not stand and will fall.”
The expert also highlighted the broader implications of EU policy.
“The extension of EU sanctions for six months more, it means that European Union doesn’t believe that a peace deal can be possible with Russia in upcoming month,” he said, underlining Brussels’ continued pressure on Moscow.
The EU Council confirmed on 22 December that economic sanctions against Russia will remain in place at least until 31 July 2026.
Nabiyev said the combined effect of financial support and extended sanctions sends a clear message that Ukraine is expected to withstand Russian pressure in the coming months, while the EU remains committed to long-term support and reconstruction.
Orkhan Nabiyev's commentary follows the latest major EU meeting on Ukraine funding took place on 18-19 December, when European Union leaders met in Brussels at a European Council summit to address Kyiv’s financial and defence needs the near future.
The conclusions from the summit reaffirmed broad political and financial support for Ukraine’s continued resistance and long‑term resilience.
The head of the World Health Organization said on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda was outpacing ...
A peace agreement between Washington and Tehran is yet to materialise, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that negotiations are incomplete and a...
The Kremlin warned on Monday that Armenia could lose the “very attractive” price it pays for Russian gas if it moved away from integration with Ru...
Uzbekistan has unveiled its final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the country’s first appearance at football’s biggest tournament. The ...
Nearly half of Afghanistan’s population - more than 21 million people - needed humanitarian assistance in the first three months of 2026, accordin...
The head of the World Health Organization said on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, giving the latest number of suspected deaths as 220.
A peace agreement between Washington and Tehran is yet to materialise, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that negotiations are incomplete and an Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman saying that a deal isn't imminent.
Uzbekistan has unveiled its final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the country’s first appearance at football’s biggest tournament. The national team, led by Italian head coach Fabio Cannavaro, will compete at the tournament hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Nearly half of Afghanistan’s population - more than 21 million people - needed humanitarian assistance in the first three months of 2026, according to the United Nations, yet aid agencies reached only 4.7 million people.
The inaugural Enhanced Games began in Las Vegas on Sunday (24 May), launching one of the most controversial experiments in modern sport, in which athletes openly compete using performance-enhancing drugs banned under traditional anti-doping rules.
A peace agreement between Washington and Tehran is yet to materialise, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that negotiations are incomplete and an Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman saying that a deal isn't imminent.
A "largely negotiated" memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday, though the Iranian Fars news agency disputed that claim.
Police fired tear gas and clashed with protesters in central Belgrade on Saturday, as tens of thousands gathered to demand early elections and an end to the more than decade-long rule of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić.
The head of the World Health Organization said on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, giving the latest number of suspected deaths as 220.
The head of the World Health Organization said on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, giving the latest number of suspected deaths as 220.
Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the “unbreakable friendship” between China and Pakistan as he met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on Monday, a day after companies from both countries signed cooperation agreements worth $1.22 billion.
A second group of Australian women and children linked to the Islamic State group has departed a refugee camp in north-east Syria and may return to Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday.
Pope Leo XIV has issued a historic apology for the Catholic Church’s past role in legitimising slavery, describing it as a “wound in Christian memory,” as he released a landmark encyclical addressing human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.
Rescuers pulled two people from the rubble of a collapsed building under construction in the Philippines, raising the death toll to three. Search and rescue operations continued after scans detected signs of life beneath the debris.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment