EU releases nearly €2.8 billion to help Ukraine

BRUSSELS, June 8 (Reuters) - The European Union released nearly €2.8 billion ($3.2 billion) to Ukraine on Monday as part of ongoing efforts to finance Ukraine as it deals with its war with Russia, the European Commission said.

"Ukraine's speed and commitment to delivering meaningful reforms has merited this payment, and we are now also paving the way for further progress in the accession negotiations," Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, said in a statement.

($1 = 0.8687 euros)

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Aidan Lewis)