Standing Shoulder to Shoulder with Ukraine
On 24 February, senior EU leadership arrived in Kyiv to express support for Ukraine and announce new solidarity measures.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the 16th package of sanctions against Russia. She also announced new macro- financial assistance of EUR 3.5 billion to be disbursed in March, as well as military support and a package of energy security measures. These measures aim to promote Ukraine’s full integration into the EU energy market and strengthen its resilience.
To date, the EU and its member states have provided Ukraine with EUR 134 billion in total aid – more than any other state or organisation.
EU leadership statement:
Russia and its leadership bear full responsibility for this war and the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian people
The joint statement by the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the President of the European Parliament, made on the occasion of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, addresses the responsibility of the Russian regime for crimes committed against Ukrainians, as well as the necessity of just punishment for war criminals and their accomplices. Work is currently underway to establish a Special Tribunal to prosecute the crimes of aggression against Ukraine.
Read more about this and the 16th package of EU sanctions against Russia.
Katarina Mathernová: “Ukrainians are defending not only their homeland; they are defending the freedom of all of Europe”
24 February marks exactly three years since Russia unilaterally launched its brutal aggression against the Ukrainian people.
“On this solemn anniversary, I want to emphasise the immense impact of this war and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. Since assuming this post in September 2023, I have witnessed firsthand the horrific damage inflicted by Russia’s war of aggression – from the killing of innocent people and barbaric attacks on civilian infrastructure to the total destruction of populated areas. Ukraine and the democratic world must never forget the horrors and innocent victims of Russian aggression.”
Read more in the opinion column by EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernová.
UKRAINE–EU:
ACCESSION ALGORITHM
Ukraine’s public administration reform roadmap: charting the path to EU accession
At the “Ukraine’s Accession to the EU: Shaping a Transformational Agenda” Forum, representatives of public authorities, the EU, and the expert community discussed Ukraine’s public administration reform plan.
This negotiation process involves over 1,000 specialists from the EU and its Member States, working collaboratively with Ukrainian counterparts. For Ukraine, European integration is a nationwide process involving all branches of government, civil society, and the entire country.
First European integration hub opens in Lviv
Olena Pavliuk, Director of the Lviv Bureau of European Integration, described the hub as an environment for those engaged in European integration and seeking cooperation with international organisations.
“We aim to be a platform that facilitates collaboration, advocacy, and adaptation of local governance to EU standards. As the entire country moves towards the European Union, it is essential for the civil sector, national government, and local self-government to be represented in this process. This is why we created this hub,” she stated.
SECURITY SUPPORT
Kaja Kallas:
“No one from Russia’s leadership is untouchable”
During the 13th meeting of the Core Group on the Establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas made the following statement.
“There has to be a clear division between war crimes and the crimes of aggression. War crimes can be prosecuted by the ICC (International Criminal Court), but the crime of aggression can only be prosecuted by [a] Special Tribunal.”
“It is clear that the crime of aggression is a leadership crime, so without the crime of aggression there would not be any war crimes either. Therefore, it is extremely important that there is also accountability for the crime of aggression,” said Kaja Kallas.
EU and UNDP bolster Ukraine’s emergency response capacity
The EU and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine are providing emergency responders with essential specialised equipment for operating in the most challenging conditions.
Units of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) in the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson oblasts received new equipment, and local fire brigades in ten communities in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts got necessary technical equipment. The total value of this assistance exceeds USD 410,000.
BUSINESS, ECONOMY, FINANCE
New EIB Support Package under the Ukraine Facility
On 10 February, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced a new support package for Ukraine worth EUR 420 million. These funds will finance new public sector projects, specifically the restoration and protection of the energy supply, heating systems, and other critical infrastructure damaged by Russian aggression.
This package contributes to the European Union’s EUR 50 billion Ukraine Facility programme, designed to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.
The announcement was made during the visit to Kyiv of EIB Group President Nadia Calvino, who met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
Ukraine Facility Audit Board now fully operational
The European Commission has finalised the Ukraine Facility Audit Board with the appointment of three experienced specialists in financial control and management.
The Board will operate until the end of June 2028. Its primary mission is to ensure that the financial assistance provided under the Ukraine Facility, which allocates EUR 50 billion to the Ukrainian budget for the period 2024–2027, is used transparently and efficiently to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.
The Board consists of: Marek Belka (Chair), a specialist in macroeconomics and financial management; Gijs de Vries (Deputy Chair), a seasoned expert in audit and control; and Gunnar Wälzholz (Member), a specialist in financial management.
Ukraine’s recovery needs assessment increased from $486 billion to $524 billion
The largest share of long-term recovery and reconstruction costs is in the housing sector, estimated at nearly $84 billion. Next follow the transport sector (approximately USD 78 billion) and energy and extraction industries (around $68 billion). The estimated cost of debris removal and management alone reaches almost $13 billion.
“The EU is already supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery by mobilising more private investment through the Ukraine Investment Framework and helping the country integrate more deeply into the EU Single Market,” said Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.
GOOD GOVERNANCE
EU4Recovery Programme launches new community spaces for veterans
The UNDP in Ukraine, the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the EU have supported the launch of two veteran spaces in the Krolevets and Konotop communities in Sumy Oblast. The two grant projects have a total value of USD 48,738.
Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Stefan Schleuning, highlighted the significance of communitydriven veteran reintegration. “Veteran reintegration can only be effective when it is anchored at the community level,” noted Mr Schleuning. “We are proud to support these new veteran spaces in Sumy region as part of the EU4Recovery programme. These hubs will provide veterans with a range of services, helping in their return to civilian life.”
New modular administrative service centres open in Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava oblasts
New modular Administrative Service Centres (ASCs) have opened in Kryviy Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Velyki Sorochyntsi, Poltava Oblast.
In these centres, local residents and internally displaced persons will be able to process documents, register their place of residence and businesses, and also receive services for veterans. The modular Administrative Service Centre in Kryviy Rih is part of the “Visa” ASC (“Diia Centre”). One of its features is the renovated “I Am a Veteran” office.
This is the first modular centre in the oblast to operate on a “one-stop shop” basis, providing veterans and their families with access to 600 government services.
EDUCATION, SCIENCE, CULTURE
Together We Learn & Grow communication campaign concluded in Lviv
The All-Ukrainian communication campaign “Together We Learn & Grow” concluded in Lviv on 15 February. The campaign aimed to inform Ukrainians about the European Union’s support for education and youth in Ukraine during wartime.
The final event gathered over 1,500 young people, educators, experts, and journalists, and was opened by EU Ambassador Katarina Mathernová and Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi. This event provided a platform to celebrate the achievements of EU educational and youth initiatives, as well as to showcase new opportunities for Ukrainian youth.
Katarina Mathernová and Andriy Sadovyi unveil installation celebrating Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025
In front of Lviv City Hall, the European Union flag was ceremoniously raised and a special installation, “Not easy, but move,” was unveiled to mark the city’s new title.
Lviv, as the European Youth Capital, is dedicating this year to all the heroic youth who are defending our country and setting an example for Europe and the entire world.
The EU flag in front of Lviv City Hall was raised by tenth-grader Yustyna Duhina and eighth-grader Hordiy Kuzminskyy, accomplished youth leaders, winners of all-Ukrainian and international youth Olympiads, volunteers and socially active individuals.
EU launches project to support psychosocial support system for police officers
The European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine, with financial and expert support from the Dutch government and in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, has launched the ‘Blue Haven for Ukraine’ project.
The initiative is focused on creating an effective psychosocial support system for employees of the National Police of Ukraine (NPU), primarily in frontline areas, where they work under significant stress and psychological trauma.