New Recovery Diary episode: 19th sanction package, talks with China and support for most urgent challenges

The new episode of ‘The Recovery Diary’, released this week, highlights how the European Union  supports Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction in the context of the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.

This episode presents the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia, adopted on 23 October. It further targets the Russian oil trade and cracks down on financial loopholes, Russian banks, crypto exchanges, and entities in India and China, among others.

The episode also features the EU’s diplomatic pressure on China, which can play a significant role in ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. The President of the European Council, António Costa, discussed this personally with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the Southeast Asian summit in Kuala Lumpur, on 28 October.

The episode also tells how EU and EU member states’ funds are being used to restore the water supply in Mykolaiv. New pumps and new pipes laid to replace rusty ones provide the city’s residents with clean drinking water.

Another topic is support for Ukrainian railways and energy facilities through the Ukraine  Energy Support Fund, established to counteract the impact of the Russian attacks targeting critical energy infrastructure. The Fund is managed by the Energy Community Secretariat, co-chaired by the European Commission. By 31 October 2025, the Fund has transferred €1,263 million to restore Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The episode also highlights the recent endorsement by the Ukraine Investment Framework of a new package of programmes helping Ukraine to tackle the most urgent challenges across key areas of its economy. This includes access to affordable housing (through the EIB – the European Investment Bank);  strengthening of agricultural production through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and Dutch financing company Cardano Development. Norway, which joined the platform for the first time, will together with the EU will support Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-owned energy company,  with an investment grant of €127 million (NOK 1.5 billion) to secure essential gas imports for millions of households, hospitals, schools and public institutions across the country.

The European Union remains Ukraine’s strongest partner, playing a critical role in recovery, reconstruction, and the reforms needed for EU accession. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the EU has mobilised €177.5 billion in humanitarian, financial, economic, and military assistance.

The Recovery Diary is a television series produced by EU NEIGHBOURS East in partnership with ICTV. The series documents real progress across Ukraine, highlighting recovery and reconstruction efforts supported by the EU and its Member States.

Watch the episode:
Episode on YouTube