Timeline: how the EU supported Ukraine in 2022 

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Parliament President Roberta Metsola meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during her visit to Kyiv on 1 April  

Check out our timeline for an overview of how the EU and the European Parliament supported Ukraine in 2022 since the start of Russia’s invasion on 24 February.

The timeline is in reverse chronological order, meaning the most recent event will appear on top and the oldest one on the bottom.

Check out how the EU and the European Parliament are supporting Ukraine in 2023.

EU support for Ukraine 
description: How the EU and the European Parliament supported Ukraine in 2022 since the start of Russia’s invasion on 24 February.  

Metsola calls for forceful response to energy crisis, inflation, war in Ukraine

title short description: “We need a revision of the EU long-term budget to adapt to crisis and finance new priorities,” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola tells EU leaders at the European Council.

MEPs say no to Russian passports from occupied regions, stress right to asylum

title short description: The European Parliament agrees not to accept travel documents that Russia has issued in the areas it illegally occupies in Ukraine and Georgia.

Metsola calls for more military support to Ukraine and a united response to energy crisis

title short description: Parliament President Roberta Metsola calls for European unity in providing military support to Ukraine and responding to the energy crisis at the Prague informal European Council.

MEPs call for massive increase of military assistance to Ukraine

title short description: MEPs urge all countries and international organisations to unequivocally condemn Russia's sham referenda in occupied territories of Ukraine and its attempt to acquire territory by force.

EU adopts eighth package of sanctions against Russia

title short description: In light of Russia’s escalating war of aggression against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, the Council decides to impose a new package of economic and individual sanctions against Russia.

Parliament's Secretary-General offers support in a visit to Ukraine

title short description: Klaus Welle, Secretary-General of the European Parliament, visited Kyiv on 21 and 22 September after being invited by his counterpart of the Verkhovna Rada, Viacheslav Shtuchnyi. Welle offered Parliament’s help in facilitating Ukraine's EU accession: "We are entering a new phase of our support for the Rada. The focus will shift from logistical to legislative support: How can we best help the Ukrainian parliament in its accession to the EU?”

MEPs criticise human rights breaches in Ukraine

title short description: Parliament strongly condemns the reported atrocities committed by the Russian Armed Forces. MEPs also highlight the forcible deportation of Ukrainian civilians, including children, to Russia, as well as Russia’s abhorrent practices in so-called filtration camps.

Simplified procedure to use EU regional funding to tackle consequences Russian aggression

title short description: Parliament's regional development committee backs simplified rules for the use of EU regional funds to address the consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

State of the EU debate: Ukraine, energy, climate change, economy

title short description: In the annual State of the European Union debate, MEPs question President Ursula von der Leyen on the European Commission’s work in the past year and its upcoming plans. This includes challenges such as the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis.

Lead MEP welcomes decision to give Ukraine and Moldova EU candidate status

title short description: David McAllister, the chair of Parliament’s foreign affairs committee, issued a statement to welcome the Council’s decision on the EU membership applications of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.

Parliament calls for candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova

title short description: MEPs adopt a resolution calling on EU leaders holding a summit that day to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova “without delay”. They should do the same with Georgia “once its government has delivered” on the priorities indicated by the European Commission.

Croatian Prime Minister calls for candidate status for Ukraine

title short description: In his speech to MEPs as part of the This is Europe series, Croation Prime Minister Andrej Plenković expresses his desire for the European Council to grant Ukraine candidate status, as well as that of Moldova and Georgia, pending certain conditions.

MEPs call for special tribunal to punish Russian political leaders and military commanders

title short description: Parliament asks the EU to support setting up a special international tribunal to punish the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine, for which the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction and hold Russian political leaders and military commanders and those of its allies to account.

MEPs: all EU sanctions against Russia must apply to Belarus

title short description: Parliament welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for a sixth sanctions package against Russia and Belarus and calls on EU countries in the Council to ensure its comprehensive and swift implementation. All the future EU sanctions issued against Russia must be strictly mirrored for Belarus for its support of the war of aggression in Ukraine, say MEPs.

EU must strengthen support for citizens and businesses and help for Ukraine

title short description: MEPs call for funding to deal with the consequences of the war in Ukraine, by confiscating Russian oligarchs’ assets, making use of new EU own resources, and fully using the funds available in the existing EU budget.

War in Ukraine: protecting women refugees from violence and sexual exploitation

title short description: To protect women fleeing the war, MEPs call on the EU and all host and transit countries to ensure access to sexual and reproductive health services , as well as to the obstetric care.

Oil embargo - the sixth package of sanctions is on the table

title short description: The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announces a proposal for the sixth package of sanctions against Russia which would include a complete import ban on all Russian oil, seaborne and pipeline, crude and refined.

Fifth package of sanctions: coal embargo and transport restrictions

title short description: The EU adopts a fifth package of sanctions against Russia, in light of Russia’s continuing war of aggression against Ukraine and the reports of atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces in a number of Ukrainian towns.

EU facilitates steps by telecom operators to help refugees stay connected

title short description: Telecom operators based in the EU and in Ukraine sign a joint statement on their coordinated efforts to secure affordable or free roaming and international calls between the EU and Ukraine. The Commission and the Parliament facilitate this joint statement.

MEPs frontload €3.4 billion to address Ukrainian refugees’ needs

title short description: MEPs adopt additional urgent support measures agreeing to immediately release about €3.4 billion from the React-EU funds and speed up EU governments’ access to funds to pay for infrastructure, housing, equipment, employment, education, social inclusion, healthcare and childcare for refugees.

MEPs call for more support for Ukraine and further sanctions against Russia

title short description: MEPs unite in showing solidarity and giving more help to Ukraine. They call for further sanctions against Russia, additional support for Ukraine and for reducing the EU’s energy dependency.

Minute of silence in memory of war victims in Ukraine

title short description: President Roberta Metsola leads MEPs in a minute of silence in memory of the victims of Bucha, Irpin and all victims of war, terror and violence. She updates the Parliament on her visit to Ukraine and appeals for more logistical, humanitarian and military support.

European Parliament launches website in cooperation with Ukrainian parliament

title short description: The European Parliament in cooperation with Ukraine’s Parliament Verkhovna launches the Stand with Ukraine shows how the EU supports Ukraine. The website, set up by Parliament, provides (in English and Ukrainian) the latest news, videos and podcasts, relevant legislation and resolutions.

Third package of sanctions: banning Russian aircraft and transactions with Russian Central Bank

title short description: The EU approves a third package of measures in response to the unprovoked and unjustified military aggression carried out by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. EU countries decide to deny Russian aircraft permission to land in, take off from or fly over their territories and ban transactions with the Russian Central Bank.

Second package of Russia sanctions including against President Putin

title short description: The EU decides to sanction Russia’s president Vladimir Putin and Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. The Council also agrees on a further package of individual and economic measures covering Belarus to respond to the unprovoked and unjustified military aggression carried out by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

European Parliament’s leaders express full solidarity and support for Ukraine

title short description: Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and the political group leaders condemn the attack in the strongest possible terms and express full solidarity and support for Ukraine and its people.