All 27 European Union leaders have successfully reached an agreement on a €50 billion aid package for Ukraine, overcoming previous opposition from Hungary.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed appreciation for the new funding, emphasizing its positive impact on the country’s economic and financial stability. The Ukrainian economic ministry anticipates receiving the initial installment of funds in March.
Concerns had arisen about a potential blockade of the package by Hungary’s Prime Minister, echoing a previous incident at a European summit in December. Viktor Orban, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin within the EU, aimed to prompt a reassessment of the bloc’s Ukraine policy and questioned the commitment to providing funds for Kyiv over the next four years.
The aid package is intended to cover various expenses, including pensions, salaries, and other costs, spanning the next four years. Meanwhile, the delay in US military aid for Ukraine, the primary contributor of military support to Kyiv, is currently pending resolution in Congress.
Many European countries also provide military aid to Ukraine.
News of the agreement was announced less than two hours after the summit started, surprising many observers who had expected talks to go on much longer due to the depth of disagreement between Mr Orban and the other EU leaders.
Agreeing a new package of aid for Ukraine requires the unanimous support of all 27 EU member states, meaning until now Hungary had been able to veto a deal.
Diplomatic sources told Reuters that the new deal includes a yearly discussion of the package and the option to review it in two years, “if needed”.
Mr Orban had been pushing for a yearly vote on the package, but this could have left the deal exposed to an annual veto threat from Hungary.
“A good day for Europe,” Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said on X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his appreciation to EU leaders, emphasizing that the unanimous decision of all 27 heads of state reflects a united stance in supporting Ukraine, which experienced a Russian invasion almost two years ago. Zelensky also highlighted that the aid package is poised to enhance Ukraine’s long-term economic and financial stability.
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, underscored the significance of Europe investing in its own security, emphasizing that Ukraine’s resistance to Russia is a collective effort to thwart President Putin’s attempts to challenge the global order through force.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, critical of what he labeled as Viktor Orban’s “strange and egotistic game,” suggested on X that Orban could be persuaded to move forward, urging a collective progress.
With concerns regarding human rights and corruption in Hungary, the EU has held back €20 billion in funds. The announcement of the new aid package follows the agreement among European leaders in December to initiate EU membership talks with Ukraine, a decision hailed at that time as a triumph for the country.
