OTS: The International Visegrad Fund supports Ukraine with grants of 2.6 mill...

OTS: The International Visegrad Fund supports Ukraine with grants of 2.6 million eur

Bratislava, February 19 (TASR/OTS) – As Ukraine marks three years of resistance against the Russian invasion, global support remains critical. While some may perceive a decline in interest and assistance, the International Visegrad Fund continues to stand firmly by Ukraine, providing €2.6 million in funding over the course of the war.

In response to the big scale invasion in February 2022, the Fund swiftly launched a special call for proposals aimed at supporting Ukrainian refugees within the V4 region as well as internally displaced people in Ukraine itself. Within the first year, over 70 grants were awarded, totalling nearly €1 million.

In 2023, an additional almost €390,000 was funded for humanitarian aid projects, and more than €480,000 was allocated for both grants and scholarships for Ukrainian applicants, reflecting the Fund's continued commitment to the conflict-affected country.

In addition to the immediate humanitarian assistance, the International Visegrad Fund has played an important role in supporting Ukrainian education and professional development. In 2024, the contribution to grant projects increased by more than €770,000, covering a variety of grant schemes, currently also extended to youth initiatives, scholarships and fellowships. Thus, last year, support for Ukraine accounted for approximately 9.4% of the total annual funding approved.

“Talking in person to representatives of municipalities, NGOs, and universities and witnessing their resilience in the face of daily challenges motivates us to persist in our support and explore new avenues for solidarity,” emphasized the Fund´s Executive Director Linda Kapustová Helbichová.

The Fund has been supporting Ukraine for more than two decades. To date, more than €8.9 million of regular funding has been allocated to Ukrainian entities, making Ukraine the largest recipient of funding from the International Visegrad Fund outside the V4 region.

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