France vows EUR 650M in assistance to Ukraine’s key sectors

During President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to France, two agreements will be signed on the support of key sectors of the economy and critical infrastructure for a total amount of EUR 650 million.

This was announced during a telephone press conference held by the Elysée Palace, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The French Development Agency (AFD) will provide "projected funds in the amount of EUR 400 million in the form of loans and 50 million euros in the form of grants until 2027 in order to expand its activities in Ukraine," they said. The funds will go to support, in particular, in the energy and transport sectors.

The second EUR 200 million deal will involve the creation of a bilateral fund that will support projects involving companies with a French stake.

"These funds will be used to finance major projects, to strengthen or replace energy infrastructure that is failing, as well as in the fields of transport, water supply, health care, and agriculture," the Elysée Palace detailed.

It should be recalled that on June 6-7, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine will be on a visit to France. On June 6, he is scheduled to take part in the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the landing of Allied forces in Normandy, and on June 7 in Paris, he will speak at the National Assembly and hold talks with Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace.

This will be the fourth visit of the the Ukrainian leader to France since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Zelensky will also have a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden during the commemorative events in Normandy. Biden has already arrived in France wit the ceremony in Normandy and negotiations with Zelensky and Macron on his schedule.