Kaja Kallas, António Costa, and Marta Kos visited Kyiv on Sunday for talks with President Zelenskyy about increasing EU support. This marked the first foreign trip for the officials in their new roles.
The visit comes amid concerns about the future of U.S. aid to Ukraine as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in January. Trump has criticized the extensive military and financial aid provided by the Biden administration. He has also claimed he could end the war in 24 hours, suggesting Ukraine might need to concede territory occupied by Russia.
During the meeting, Zelenskyy renewed his call for more weapons and financial assistance to sustain Ukraine’s fight against Russian forces.
Financial Aid and Sanctions Highlight EU’s Commitment
After discussions with Zelenskyy, Costa outlined the EU’s ongoing financial support. He said the bloc had financed repairs to one-third of Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity and promised further aid.
“This month, the EU will provide Ukraine with an additional €4.2 billion to support its budget,” Costa announced. He added that starting next month, the EU plans to deliver €1.5 billion every month for a year. The funding could come from proceeds of frozen Russian assets and might also support military needs.
It remained unclear if this aid represented new funds or restated commitments made earlier this year. In May, EU member states agreed to use the interest earned on €210 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets for Ukraine’s military and reconstruction needs. Most of these assets, frozen under sanctions against Moscow, are held in Belgium and generate approximately €3 billion in annual interest.
Costa also announced a new round of sanctions targeting Russia. “We will increase the pressure on the Russian economy and further weaken its ability to wage war,” he stated. A 15th sanctions package is under preparation, though Costa did not specify the targets of these measures.