The office of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a statement on Monday that Ukraine to discuss financial and military support with the European Union during the Ukraine-EU summit scheduled in Kyiv on February 3.
The details and expected results of the high-level meeting were discussed during the phone call Zelenskyy had with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, agreeing at the same time to intensify preparatory work.
The statement said that the discussion was focused on the new, 18 billion euro-worth financial assistance programme to Ukraine – with Zelenskyy pushing for the first tranche to be sent this month – and on the supply of appropriate weapons.
The EU cleared the way to giving Kyiv the aid last month in a so-called megadeal – €18 billion in macrofinancial aid for Ukraine – that included the adoption of a minimum 15% global corporate tax rate after the Polish government agreed to drop its veto on the minimum tax directive, clearing the way for a package deal.
The bloc also launched EUMAM Ukraine (the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine) last November to continue supporting Kyiv against the ongoing Russian aggression while the European Council adopted an assistance measure to support the capacity building of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the EUMAM Ukraine under the€16 million-worth European Peace Facility (EPF).
According to Article 5 of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU – the basis on which Ukraine-EU Summits are held – the parties hold regular political dialogue meetings at summit level.
Summit meetings take place every year – alternately in Ukraine and Brussels – with the participation of the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the President of Ukraine.
Since the start of the Russian invasion in February, Zelenskyy has made regular appearances at EU summits via video-link while both Council President Charles Michel and Von der Leyen have visited Kyiv since the war started though their travel plans, have never been announced in advance for security reasons.
