Joint press release following the 10th meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council

On 9^th April, the European Union and Ukraine held the 10^th meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council in Brussels under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

The Association Council reiterated its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter. The EU commended the courage and determination of the Ukrainian people and its leadership in their fight to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom of Ukraine. The EU underlined its unwavering commitment to help Ukraine exercise its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression and to build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future.

The Association Council recalled the EU’s objective to support Ukraine to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law. It welcomed the outcome of the US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia, including the proposal for a ceasefire agreement. The Council stressed that the proposal of a ceasefire – if accepted by Russia – can be an important step in this direction and that it is now for Russia to show its willingness to achieve peace. The Council recalled that indiscriminate attacks are prohibited under international humanitarian law, and if they amount to attacks directed against civilians they may constitute war crimes. The Council stressed that recent Russia’s brutal attack against residential neigbourhood in Kryvyi Rih that killed 20 people, including 9 children, may constitute a grave violation of the international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes. The EU stressed that it is ready to play its full part in supporting the upcoming steps, together with Ukraine, the United States and other partners.

The Association Council welcomed the overall support provided to Ukraine by the EU and its Member States of almost EUR 144 billion since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including EUR 49.6 billion of military assistance. It welcomed also the training provided for the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the EU Military Assistance Mission, which has trained 73,000 Ukrainian troops so far.

The Council welcomed the continued financial assistance delivered through EU instruments. In this regard, it welcomed the disbursement of the third regular payment of nearly EUR 3.5 billion in 2025 under the Ukraine Facility, bringing total support under the Facility to approximately EUR 19.6 billion since its launch in March 2024. It also welcomed the disbursement of the third tranche of EUR 1 billion in macro-financial assistance under the ERA loan in 2025, bringing the total ERA support to Ukraine in 2025 to EUR 5 billion. Ukraine emphasized the key role of EU financial assistance in supporting its resilience and recovery.

Ukraine welcomed the decision of the G7 to approve a $50 billion loan for Ukraine in 2025 as a crucial step, and highlighted the EU’s leadership in international efforts to support Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Ukraine expressed its appreciation for the sixteen packages of EU restrictive measures and the Council reiterated that work will continue on sanctions, including by strengthening their implementation and preventing circumvention, and by adopting further sanctions.

The Council stressed that subject to EU law, Russian assets should remain immobilised until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates it for the damage caused by this war.

The EU reiterated its determination to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs including the delivery of ammunition and missiles, and its commitment to bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend its independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Association Council highlighted the strategic importance of intensifying work to further support and develop Ukraine’s defence industry and to deepen its cooperation with the EU Defence industry, cooperation which has to be in line with modalities to be agreed and has to take into account the security and defence interests of all Member States, in accordance with the Treaties. The EU underlined that in line with Joint Security commitments between EU and Ukraine it remained committed to contributing, for the long term and together with partners, to sustainable support for Ukraine’s security and defence , which will help Ukraine to defend itself, deter acts of aggression and resists destabilisation efforts in the future. The Association Council welcomed the opening of the EU Defence Innovation Office in Kyiv in September 2024 and the work towards its extension.

The Association Council stressed the firm commitment that Russia and its leadership must be held fully accountable for waging a war of aggression against Ukraine, and other most serious crimes under international law. The Association Council welcomed the agreement between legal experts on the technical documents, laying the foundation for the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

The Association Council emphasised the historic decision of the European Council of December 2023 to open EU accession negotiations with Ukraine. It recalled that the Council adopted the respective negotiating framework with Ukraine at the first Intergovernmental Conference on 25 June 2024 and that the European Council on 17 December 2024 reaffirmed its full and unequivocal commitment to the EU membership perspective of Ukraine. It welcomed the completion of the bilateral screening meetings of three clusters, looks forward to its conclusion and to the next steps in Ukraine’s accession process by opening clusters, starting with the fundamentals cluster as soon as possible, when the conditions are met. Ukraine has reiterated its unwavering commitment to implement all opening benchmarks as provided by the negotiating framework immediately after the request of the EU side. The Council encourages Ukraine to continue on its path of reforms, which the EU will continue to support. The future of Ukraine and its citizens lies within the European Union.

Despite the ongoing war, trade between Ukraine and the EU has continued growing. The Association Council took note of the state of play of implementation of the Association Agreement and agreed to maximise the opportunities it offers to accelerate the gradual integration into selected EU policies, already before accession, in those sectors where Ukraine is set to achieve full regulatory alignment. Ukraine reaffirmed the importance of rule-based trade as well as keeping the scope and dynamics of trade between EU and Ukraine, which is highly beneficial for both sides. Ukraine is looking forward to the review of DCFTA under article 29(4) as soon as possible as well as working out bridging solutions in view of the expiration of the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM).

This also concerns in particular the launch of the assessment for the conclusion of an Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of industrial products (ACAA) for three sectors, which could in the future be expanded to other strategic sectors once Ukraine full aligns with the EU legislation; the progress towards granting of internal market treatment for roaming; and the acceleration of preparations by Ukraine to apply to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) scheme. The Association Council underlined the importance of the EU-Ukraine road transport agreement to facilitate bilateral trade, and welcomed the Joint Committee’s decision on smart tachograph recognition – a step that will further improve transport connectivity.

The Association Council welcomed Ukraine’s steady progress in implementing reforms under the Ukraine Plan, particularly in the areas of rule of law, judiciary and public administration, and encouraged Ukraine to continue decisively on this path, which is key for strengthening Ukraine’s resilience and brings it closer to EU membership.

The Association Council welcomed progress towards the establishment of the new Public Administration Reform Sub-committee under the Association Agreement and the Joint Consultative Committee between Ukraine and the European Committee of the Regions. These two bodies will foster closer cooperation between the EU and Ukraine on key governance reforms, particularly in public administration and decentralisation.

The Association Council welcomed Ukraine’s signature of the Joint Procurement Agreement for medical countermeasures.

The Association Council acknowledged the EU-Ukraine cooperation on space and welcomed the ambition of Ukraine to be ever closer associated to the Union Space Programme. It welcomed the signing of the agreement on participation of Ukraine in the Copernicus component, the Space Weather Events and Near-Earth Objects sub-components of the Union Space Programme.

The EU highlighted the contribution of the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine to support Ukraine’s civilian security sector reform in line with the EU accession agenda, accountability efforts, as well as law enforcement in liberated and adjacent territories.

The meeting was chaired by Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Delegation of the EU was headed by Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos participated in the meeting on behalf of the European Commission.