The European Union transfers EUR 65 million for school meals as part of EUR 150 million budget disbursement support for Ukraine’s recovery

The European Union (EU) has transferred a second tranche of EUR 150 million in budget support to Ukraine, with a significant focus on ensuring food security for children through the provision of hot meals in schools. A total of EUR 65 million from this funding will directly support Ukraine’s school nutrition policy, which aims to provide free, healthy meals to primary school students across the country.

This initiative, originally announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is a key component of the EU’s broader efforts to aid Ukraine’s recovery and strengthen its resilience in the face of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression. The EUR 65 million will ensure that more than 700,000 primary school children, particularly in grades 1-4, will receive a hot meal once a day at no cost to their families. The provision of free hot meals is not only aimed at improving nutritional health but also at creating a safe and supportive educational environment for the children of Ukraine.

The funding for school meals is part of the EU’s second tranche of EUR 150 million, aimed at accelerating Ukraine’s recovery and rebuilding essential infrastructure. In addition to the EUR 65 million allocated for school nutrition, the remaining EUR 85 million will support critical infrastructure, food security, and reconstruction projects vital to Ukraine’s recovery including:

• EUR 50 million for the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, focused on repairing and upgrading port infrastructure in Odesa, which was damaged during Russian attacks in autumn 2023.
• EUR 15 million to the State Agency of Reconstruction and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine for the implementation of various infrastructure projects vital for recovery.
• EUR 20 million to the Ministry of Agricultural Policy and Food of Ukraine to support policy actions that ensure food security for the Ukrainian population.

Katarína Mathernová, EU Ambassador to Ukraine: “This support will ensure that over 700,000 primary school children not only receive healthy meals but also find the much-needed sense of normalcy. Russia’s brutal invasion has severely disrupted the education, leaving children without the safety and stability that schooling should provide. To help restore that stability, this €65 million initiative—part of a larger €150 million package—will directly support their education and well-being, with the remaining €85 million funding vital recovery needs for Ukraine. It once again reflects the EU’s commitment to Ukraine—not just through today’s challenges but in building a stronger tomorrow. We firmly believe in Ukraine’s future, which lies within the EU, and that future starts with its children. By funding school meals, we give children the care, safety, and hope they deserve, one meal at a time.”

Oksen Lisovyi, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine: “Healthy nutrition in schools is not just about caring for children’s health, it is our investment in a healthy future. The goal of our school nutrition policy is to foster healthy eating habits for an entire generation. Despite the ongoing invasion, Ukraine has continued this effort, securing funding this year for children in grades 1-4 across 1,165 communities. With the support of our international partners, we will expand this initiative next year, ensuring that every child in Ukraine, whether in a big city or small community, has the opportunity for a healthy future.”

The EU’s ongoing support for Ukraine aims to build long-term resilience and facilitate the country’s recovery from the consequences of the Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Previous budget support allocated funds to restore critical infrastructure, including energy, water supply, public roads, and residential buildings, while also supporting the recovery of war-affected settlements.

Contact for media

delegation-ukraine-press@eeas.europa.eu