This is part of an MFA package of up to €9 billion, announced in the Commission's 18 May Communication on Ukraine Relief and Reconstruction and endorsed by the European Council of 23-24 June 2022. It is part of the extraordinary effort by the EU, alongside the international community, to help Ukraine address its immediate financial needs following the unprovoked and unjustified aggression by Russia. The Commission already disbursed the first €1 billion of this exceptional MFA package on 1 and 2 August 2022. This followed a previous €1.2 billion emergency MFA loan paid out to Ukraine in the first half of this year. With the most recent payment, the total MFA support disbursed to Ukraine since the Russian attack on February 24 has reached €4.2 billion. The funds have been made available to Ukraine in the form of highly concessional loans, with longer-term maturities than under regular MFAs and on highly favourable terms. The assistance supports Ukraine's macroeconomic stability and overall resilience in the context of Russia's military aggression and the ensuing economic challenges. In a further show of solidarity, the EU budget will for the first time cover the interest costs on this loan, at least for the current multiannual financial framework.