Ukraine has signed an agreement with France to receive a €200 million grant aimed at supporting the country's reconstruction efforts. The agreement was signed by Yuliya Svyridenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, and Gaël Veyssière, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine, as reported by the Ministry of Economy.
Under the terms of the agreement:
- 50% of the grant will be directed towards purchasing goods and services for reconstruction projects in Ukraine.
- These projects will be implemented in cooperation with French companies that actively support Ukrainian initiatives and currently employ 25,000 people in Ukraine.
Sectors to Benefit from the Grant:
The funding will support a wide range of sectors crucial for Ukraine's reconstruction, including:
- Healthcare
- Energy
- Water Supply and Drainage
- Demining Operations
- Digital Technologies
- Infrastructure
- Agriculture
- Waste Processing
- Residential Construction
This agreement continues the collaboration initiated with a previous grant signed in June 2024, witnessed by Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Emmanuel Macron of France.
Expansion of Support from French Development Agencies
The French development group Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is also expanding its support for Ukrainian enterprises. Alongside PROPARCO (the Investment and Promotions Company for Economic Cooperation) and Expertise France, AFD will offer:
- Loans
- Grants
- Guarantees
- Other forms of financial and technical assistance
Eligible recipients include:
- State or private enterprises
- Banking institutions
- Associations and organizations
- Any legal entities located in Ukraine
Context
Despite this significant support, it is noted that France will not fully meet its earlier commitment to allocate €3 billion in military aid to Ukraine by the end of 2024, providing €2 billion instead. This adjustment aligns with France's efforts to reduce its budget deficit.
