Brussels, 15 September 2022 (dpa/MIA) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Ukraine on Thursday on its recent military accomplishments in the war with Russia. "I also want to congratulate you [on] your military success," von der Leyen said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Kiev. "I know there needs to be consolidation, but still it is impressive to see the bravery of the Ukrainian armed forces," she added. "Their success has lifted spirits, I would say, not only for the Ukrainian people, but for all your friends too," she said. Von der Leyen said she recommends EU countries to continue providing arms to Ukraine. "It is absolutely vital and necessary to support Ukraine with the military equipment they need to defend themselves and they have proven that they are able to do that if they are well equipped," she said. The European Union itself does not possess any military equipment but member states have so far made €2.5 billion ($2.5 billion) available to support the Ukrainian military. On Thursday the European Parliament in Strasbourg backed a further €5 billion in aid for Ukraine, after the European Investment Bank (EIB) had disbursed the first part of a loan package worth almost €1.6 billion on Wednesday. Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday to support the reconstruction of damaged Ukrainian school with an additional €100 million. "We will never be able to match the sacrifice that the Ukrainians are giving when they lose their homes or they cry for their beloved ones that have gone," she said in Kiev. Von der Leyen's visit is her third trip to Kiev since Russia started its invasion in February and the first one since Ukraine was named an official candidate for EU membership. Ukraine's accession process to join the bloc "is well on track," von der Leyen said on Thursday. "It's impressive to see the speed, the determination, the preciseness with which you are progressing," von der Leyen. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said last week in Brussels that his country wants to meet the EU's requirements for opening accession negotiations by the end of the year. "We have agreed that we need to work as much as possible to make sure that Ukraine has more business, more income - and thus the seamless access to the European single market is possible for Ukraine," she added. Von der Leyen mentioned reducing non-tariff trade barriers and including Ukraine in the EU's free roaming zone as examples. During her visit, the commission president was also awarded the Order of Yaroslav the Wise by Zelensky, an award given for services to Ukraine.