Gregorova worked on a huge EU loan to Ukraine that will be backed by Russian assets

Markéta Gregorová, Pirate Member of the European Parliament and member of Committee on International Trade comments:

"Even in the third year of Russia's war of aggression, support for the embattled Ukraine remains a key priority for the newly elected European Parliament. I am very pleased about the loan for Ukraine approved today, which will be financed by frozen Russian assets. The facility approved today is in addition to the amount agreed at G7 level and therefore does not require unanimous Council approval. This will neatly avoid the blackmailing practices of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that we regulary see whenever European aid to Ukraine is approved." 

"With this step, we are making it clear that the Russian aggressor must be held accountable for the heinous crimes it has committed and that Ukraine has our full support in it's quest for reconstruction and justice. The swift approval of this MFA is crucial to providng predictable, long-term and, above all, timely support to Ukraine. It is of the utmost importance that we, as the European Union, show our support and commitmet to stand by the Ukrainians until peace and stability can be restored in their country." 

Accoding to the proposal, the first tranche of financial aid should be ready by the end of this year. As part of European sanctions on Russia, the assets of the Russian Central Bank have been frozen since February 2022. In the European Union, they are worth close to 210 bilion euros, the majority of frozen Russian assets worldwide.