08/05/25 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 8 May, the European Commission paid Ukraine a further instalment of €1 billion as part of the European Union’s contribution to the €45 billion in preferential loans to be granted by the G7 countries in 2025, secured against the profits generated by the Russian Central Bank assets immobilised in the EU (see EUROPE 13513/7). This payment brings the total amount of aid provided by the EU since the beginning of the year to €6 billion, out of a total of €18.1 billion to be provided by the EU. The Commission has said it is ready, at Ukraine’s request, to bring forward the EU’s contribution to these loans to enable Kyiv to increase its military spending and respond to Russian military aggression. (MB)