KIEV, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has received 22.2 billion euros (about 23.54 billion U.S. dollars) in financial aid from the European Union since the start of the conflict with Russia, the Finance Ministry said on Monday.
This year alone, the EU has earmarked 15 billion euros (about 15.9 billion dollars) as direct budget support for Ukraine under the large-scale Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA), the ministry said.
Earlier in the day, Ukraine received the ninth tranche under the MFA worth 1.5 billion euros (about 1.59 billion dollars).
By the end of the year, the EU is set to distribute two more tranches totaling 3 billion euros (about 3.18 billion dollars) under the aid package.
Commenting on the EU assistance, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said it would help Ukraine maintain the smooth functioning of its financial system. ■
