The situation on the front, the imposition of the 7th package of sanctions against Russia, and Ukraine's financial needs to maintain macroeconomic stability were discussed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
According to the press service of the head of state, Zelenskyy in a conversation with the head of the European Council noted the need to further significantly strengthen the sanctions pressure on the aggressor country.
The interlocutors also discussed the financial needs of Ukraine to maintain macroeconomic stability. The President thanked the decision of the European Union to allocate EUR 1 billion within the framework of the new program of macrofinancial assistance. At the same time, he expressed expectations that this program, which according to the decision of the European Council amounts to EUR 9 billion, would be implemented soon.
The leaders discussed the situation on the frontline and the efforts made by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to resist the aggressor and liberate the territories. The head of the European Council condemned Russia's regular rocket attacks on peaceful Ukrainian towns.
At the same time, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine needed more modern heavy weapons in order to win. In this context, he thanked for member states' approval of the decision to allocate the fifth financial aid package of EUR500 million within the framework of the European Peace Fund to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
In his turn, Charles Michel praised the approval by the competition commission of the winner for the position of the head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the intensification of the process of selecting the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau. He is confident that the other recommendations will be implemented at the same fast pace.
The sides also agreed on the need to maintain a proper political dialogue and discussed holding the next, 24th Ukraine-EU Summit this year.
