14/12/2022 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission disbursed on Wednesday 14 December a third and final tranche of preferential loans of €500 million in the framework of the €5 billion exceptional macrofinancial assistance to Ukraine (see EUROPE 13045/12). With this payment, the total aid disbursed to Kyiv since Russia began its armed aggression against the country in February has reached €7.2 billion. On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted in favour of modifying the €18 billion assistance that will be provided to Kyiv over the whole of 2023, if only 26 member states agree due to Hungary’s opposition. The Commission has since lifted its veto on the creation of a public guarantee on the EU budget (see EUROPE 13082/2). (MB)