EU’s efforts to support Ukraine must go hand in hand with holding Russia accountable for its crimes

The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament welcomes today’s approval by the plenary of the Ukraine Facility, with an overall amount of €50 billion until 2027.

This new EU instrument composed of €17 billion in grants and €33 billion in loans will provide stable and sustainable financing to support Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation, including key reforms necessary on its EU accession track. Renew Europe insisted on a clear involvement of the Verkhovna Rada in the arrangements and timetable of the monitoring and implementation of the Ukraine Plan and pushed for clear procedures to make access to funding easier for local NGOs and local authorities. Anti-corruption measures must be in place, to make sure that the money reaches the people most affected by the war and that infrastructure gets rebuilt.

Renew Europe MEP, Vlad Gheorghe (Independent, Romania), shadow rapporteur on Ukraine Facility in the Committee on Budgets, said:

“Two years ago, I proposed a Marshall Plan for Ukraine, and now we achieved it with the Ukraine Facility. Ukraine urgently needs to rebuild pieces of social, transport and industrial infrastructure, to maintain its economy and guarantee basic social services. We have agreed with the Council that the financial aid will be delivered in Ukraine with full transparency and accountability.

This package is also a strong message to Putin: EU will stand with Ukraine as long as it takes. Слава Україні (Slava Ukraini)!”

On Thursday, this House will also vote on a resolution addressing the need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after two years of Russia’s war of aggression.

The resolution reaffirms the European Parliament's determination to continue supporting Ukraine until its full restoration and control of its internationally recognised borders. Renew Europe calls for the EU, Member States, and like-minded countries to provide comprehensive and coordinated assistance to support Ukraine’s recovery, while adopting further sanctions against Russia and its allies.

Russia must be held accountable for all crimes of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity, forcible deportation and illegal imprisonment of Ukrainian civilians, including children.

We condemn the deliberate torture and killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russian side, and we call for an independent investigation and prosecution of such crimes and for increased efforts to exchange prisoners between Ukraine and Russia.

Renew Europe MEP, Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuanian Liberal Movement), shadow rapporteur on Ukraine Facility in the Committee on Foreign Affairs and our Group’s negotiator of the EP resolution, added:

“The important decision on the Ukraine Facility confirms the EU‘s commitment to providing long-term assistance to war-torn Ukraine by sending a strong and clear message to the Ukrainians - we are with you and our support will remain with you.

Two years into this brutal Russian-instigated war, our focus is on ensuring that the commitments made by Western partners to provide ammunition for Ukraine's defence and to recover temporarily occupied territories are met and even exceeded.

The Ukrainian people have endured immense loss and suffering, and we must provide assistance to help bring home those who have been abducted, deported and imprisoned by Russia. Finally, we must work together to bring Ukraine into the European Union where it belongs.”