The European Commission and Ukraine signed an aid agreement worth 500 million euros on Monday, which will target housing and education for displaced people, as well as agriculture in Ukraine, News.ro reported with reference to AFP.

A school destroyed by bombing in the Kharkiv region in the east of UkrainePhoto: Ken Cedeno/UPI/Profimedia Images

This funding, announced by the executive body of the European Union on the sidelines of a meeting of the Ukraine-EU Association Council with the participation of Prime Minister Denis Shigal, is part of the commitments made in the spring.

This is already the 8th Ukraine-EU Association Council and the first since the country received the status of a candidate for joining the EU bloc in June.

“Ukraine can become safe for Europe in terms of gas”

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Smyhal met with Vice President of the European Commission Marosh Shefchovych, during which they discussed “strengthening sanctions against Russia and Ukraine’s integration into the EU energy market.”

In his Telegram account, he advocated “the introduction of a full energy embargo against Russia.”

“Ukrainian electricity exports can replace significant volumes of Russian gas imports,” he said.

“Currently, the commercial capacity is 300 megawatts, and our export capacity is up to 2,000 megawatts,” the Ukrainian Prime Minister added.

Shihal also clarified that Ukraine has “the largest underground deposits for gas storage and can become safe for Europe in terms of gas.”

The official noted that the Ukrainian government “seeks to speed up integration in the EU energy market”, having received the status of a candidate for joining the EU.

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