The EU Commission has paid €1.5 billion under the macro-financial assistance package for Ukraine (worth up to €18 billion). In this way, the EU “seeks to help Ukraine cover its immediate funding needs, with stable, predictable and sizeable financial support in 2023”, the EU Commission explained. With the payment made yesterday, Ukraine has so far received €15 billion in macro-financial assistance this year. “This support will help Ukraine to continue paying wages and pensions, and keep essential public services running, such as hospitals, schools, and housing for relocated people. It will also allow Ukraine to ensure macroeconomic stability and restore critical infrastructure destroyed in the war”. The payment “comes after the Commission found that Ukraine continued to make satisfactory progress towards implementing the agreed policy conditions and complied with reporting requirements, which aim to ensure the transparent and efficient use of the funds”. In particular, Ukraine has made significant progress in enhancing financial stability, strengthening the rule of law, and improving its energy system. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “the EU’s support to Ukraine is unwavering. We have provided an additional €1.5 billion in financial aid to Ukraine. This new payment takes our overall support to Ukraine to almost €83 billion. Furthermore, the Commission has proposed up to €50 billion for the coming years until 2027”.