10/01/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 10 January, the European Commission paid Ukraine a first instalment of €3 billion as part of the European Union’s contribution to the G7 countries’ preferential loans against the profits to be generated by the Bank of Russia’s assets tied up in the European Union (see EUROPE 13513/7). This aid, totalling €45 billion for 2025, of which €18.1 billion is to be provided by the EU, will be used to cover Ukraine’s urgent budgetary needs, help finance the reconstruction of the country in the wake of Russian military aggression and enable it to finance its war effort. According to the Commission, future payments by the EU will amount to €1 billion per month between March and November, with a final instalment of €6.1 billion in December. (MB)