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Lifeline for Ukrainian economy, key for global food security
It is of vital importance for Ukraine to keep its trade routes open so goods can flow in both directions. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine since February 2022 blocked this flow.
In May 2022, the Commission launched the solidarity lanes action plan to establish alternative logistics routes via rail, road and inland waterways, known as solidarity lanes.
Ukraine is a top global exporter of cereals
Cereal production is the mainstay of Ukraine’s economy and contributes to feed many countries in the world.
Barley world's 3rd largest producer
Maize world's 4th largest producer
Wheat world's 5th largest producer
Financial contributions
The European Commission, together with partner financial institutions, are investing in capacity increases, repairs and liquidity for operators.
So far, more than €2 billion has been mobilised for solidarity lanes to increase global food security and provide a lifeline for Ukraine's economy.
Key developments
- September 2023
EU makes €7 billion available for key infrastructure projects, opening the call for the first time also to Ukrainian and Moldovan entities.
- July 2023
Russia terminates the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
New study on EU rail connections with Ukraine and Moldova suggests as a first step to establish a European track gauge connection from Kraków/Katowice (Poland) to Lviv (Ukraine), as well as from Iasi (Romania) to Chisinău (Moldova).
- June 2023
€250 million invested in 9 solidarity lanes projects to improve cross-border connections between Ukraine, Moldova, and the EU.
Association of Ukraine to the EU’s programme for infrastructure funding – the Connecting Europe Facility, allowing Ukraine to apply for EU funding in the transport, energy and digital realms – for better connections between the EU and Ukraine. A similar agreement was signed between the EU and the Republic of Moldova in May 2023.
- January 2023
€226 million made available from a Military Mobility call, improving long-term connectivity with Ukraine and Moldova and reinforcing the solidarity lanes in Poland, Romania and Germany.
- December 2022
An additional €240 million invested in military mobility projects, improving the infrastructure on the solidarity lanes in Germany, Poland and Romania.
- July 2022
Proposal to extend the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) to Ukraine and Moldova.
- June 2022
New road transport agreements between the EU, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova allow additional transport by road. Hauliers can now transit through and operate between each other’s territories, without the need for permits.
This page was last updated on 5 November 2026