EU's Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell addresses media during a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister in Kyiv, on Feb. 7, 2024. (Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images)
The European Commission handed Ukraine 4.5 billion euros ($4.8 billion) in its first tranche of macro-financial assistance on March 20.
The EU approved the four-year Ukraine Facility in February, allocating 33 billion euros ($36 billion) in loans and 17 billion euros ($18.6 billion) in grants.
"Today we also made the first payment of 4.5 billion euros under the Ukraine Facility, our 50 billion euro ($54 billion) package to support the recovery, reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine," said Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat.
"And tomorrow, the European Council will discuss how to further speed up Ukraine's accession (to the EU)," he added.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has joined the advisory board of a Ukrainian defense company known for its Flamingo long-range missiles, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Nov. 17, citing the company's executives.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Nov. 16 that congressional Republicans are preparing legislation that would impose sanctions on any country doing business with Russia.
"I'm not very optimistic about achieving a ceasefire or the beginning of peace negotiations, at least this year," Finnish President Alexander Stubb said, adding that to "get something going" by March would be good.
Ukraine and Greece have signed a deal to import American liquefied natural gas to Ukraine for the first quarter of 2026, as the country seeks to secure energy supplies amid continued Russian strikes on its infrastructure.
Ukrainian forces struck the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery in Russia’s Samara Oblast and a drone storage site belonging to Russia’s elite Rubikon unit, Ukraine's General Staff reported on Nov. 16.
Russian troops reportedly shot dead two captured Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers on the outskirts of the settlement of Zatyshshia in Zaporizhia Oblast.
In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on a major corruption scandal shaking up Ukraine’s government and involving people from President Volodymyr Zelenky's circle.
Russian forces launched an armored assault on Novopavlivka, a village in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which borders Donetsk Oblast, taking advantage of difficult weather conditions and limited visibility.
Nataliia Khodemchuk, the widow of Valerii Khodemchuk, the first victim of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster, died in Kyiv overnight on Nov. 14–15 after suffering severe injuries in a mass Russian attack on the city.
Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least 4 civilians and injured at least 17 others over the past day, regional authorities reported on Nov. 16.
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Independent, under fire — and unstoppable with you on board
Independent journalism is never easy, and it’s even harder in wartime. Yet we can do it without paywalls, billionaires, or compromise — because of our community. Help us reach 25,000 members by the end of 2025.
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