PRAGUE (Reuters) – European Union finance ministers on Friday backed a 5 billion euro ($5 billion) loan for Ukraine to help its keep schools, hospitals and other state operations running as it fights against Russia’s invasion, the Czech finance ministry said.
The loan, to be backed by guarantees of EU member states, is part of an overall 9 billion euro package announced in May. The first 1 billion euros was fully sent in early August.
Czech Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura, who was hosting EU finance ministers in Prague on Friday, said in a statement that upcoming meetings would decide how the remaining 3 billion euros in the package could be split into loans or grants.
($1 = 0.9954 euros)
(Reporting by Jason Hovet; Editing by Alexander Smith)
