Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Yegor Perelygin took part in a press conference dedicated to summing up the activities of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group in 2025 and setting priorities for 2026.
The EIB Group, working in close cooperation with the Government of Ukraine and the European Commission, has been responding to the urgent challenges of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. In 2025, the EIB Group provided EUR 1.5 billion in new financing for projects in energy, infrastructure, support for small and medium-sized businesses and promotion of European integration.
During his speech, the Deputy Minister noted the role of the EIB in supporting the private sector and SMEs as the foundation of the country’s economic stability.
“Small and medium-sized businesses are a key component of Ukraine’s economic stability. It is SMEs that provide jobs, support communities and continue to work even in frontline regions. EIB support is not only financial resources, but also a risk reduction tool for the financial sector, which allows banks to lend to businesses even in difficult conditions. Our goal is not just to stabilize the economy, but to modernize it in accordance with European standards and create conditions for large-scale attraction of private capital,” said Yegor Perelygin.
He also emphasized that the EIB and EU guarantee instruments reduced risks for the banking sector, expanded entrepreneurs’ access to financing and created prerequisites for attracting foreign direct investment and integrating Ukrainian businesses into European value chains.
Yegor Perelygin also emphasized the important role of the EIB in large projects that required long time horizons and long-term financing.
In 2026, the EIB plans to continue active support for the private sector through its programs, including the launch and active implementation of the EU Flagship Fund as a co-investment tool in strategic sectors, the development of programs to attract FDI, the scaling of guarantee mechanisms, the expansion of long-term financing and the creation of new instruments to support innovative and “green” businesses.
The ministry emphasizes that the EIB is not only a financial, but also a strategic partner of Ukraine in the transformation of the economy and its integration into the European economic space. (Ministry of Economy)