Brussels, Feb 1 (EFE).- European Union leaders reached an agreement on Thursday to give 50 billion euros (nearly $54 billion) in aid to Ukraine over the next four years after Hungary withdrew its veto on the financial package following weeks of fraught negotiations.
“We have a deal. #Unity. All 27 leaders agreed on an additional 50 billion (euros) support package for Ukraine within the EU budget,” the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, said on the social media network X after an EU summit in the Belgian capital.
“This locks in steadfast, long-term, predictable funding for #Ukraine. EU is taking leadership and responsibility in support for Ukraine; we know what is at stake.”
Hungary had blocked the fund with Prime Minister Viktor Orban first insisting that the money should not come out of the EU’s budget and then demanding that any deal for funding be reviewed every year.
The 27-nation bloc managed to unblock the crucial package aid to Ukraine without giving in to the demands of the Hungarian ultranationalist prime minister and plans to make the first payment in March.
The pact comes at a key moment for Ukraine battling a Russian invasion, as a promised $60 billion aid package has been blocked by Republicans in the United States Congress over concessions on border security.
Ukraine is facing liquidity problems if new foreign aid doesn’t arrive next month.
Michel’s “unity” message came minutes after the EU leaders began the summit preceded by a meeting of the president of the European Council, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with Orbán to find a solution to the blockage.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy celebrated the move, saying he was “grateful” to Michel and EU leaders.
“It is very important that the decision was made by all 27 leaders, which once again proves strong EU unity,” Zelenskyy tweeted.
“Continued EU financial support for Ukraine will strengthen long-term economic and financial stability, which is no less important than military assistance and sanctions pressure on Russia,” he added.
During a video intervention at the summit, he urged Washington not to stop supporting his country.
“Europe today sends a signal across the Atlantic and to the entire world that the rules-based world order will overcome all challenges,” he said.
He told the European Council to approve allocating 5 billion euros in military aid to the war-torn country for each of the next four years.
“Intelligence has confirmed that Russia will receive one million artillery munitions from Pyongyang,” Zelenskyy said, regretting the delays in fulfilling the EU plan to supply arms to Ukraine. “It is a sign of global competition that Europe cannot afford to lose.” EFE
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