New Delhi: The 27 leaders of the European Union (EU) Thursday finally reached a deal to provide Ukraine with EUR 50 billion in aid. The unanimous decision came after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — the only leader opposing the deal — was brought on board.
“We have a deal. #Unity. All 27 leaders agreed on an additional €50 billion support package for Ukraine within the EU budget,” said Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, said in a post on X.
We have a deal. #Unity
All 27 leaders agreed on an additional €50 billion support package for Ukraine within the EU budget.
This locks in steadfast, long-term, predictable funding for #Ukraine.
EU is taking leadership & responsibility in support for Ukraine; we know what is…
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) February 1, 2024
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was “grateful” for continued assistance towards Kyiv’s war efforts against Russia. The EU funding agreement comes amid flagging US support for the war in Ukraine and Orbán’s threat of a veto against further funding to Kyiv.
“Grateful to @CharlesMichel and EU leaders for establishing the €50 billion Ukraine Facility for 2024-2027. It is very important that the decision was made by all 27 leaders, which once again proves strong EU unity,” said Zelenskyy in a post on X.
Grateful to @CharlesMichel and EU leaders for establishing the €50 billion Ukraine Facility for 2024-2027.
It is very important that the decision was made by all 27 leaders, which once again proves strong EU unity.
Continued EU financial support for Ukraine will strengthen…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 1, 2024
The funding facility for Ukraine will be set up for the period between 2024-2027 and will not exceed EUR 50 billion, according to the conclusions from the 14 and 15 December 2023 EU Council meetings.
Orbán, considered the last ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin within the EU, had long argued for a right to veto disbursement of funds to Ukraine annually, a demand that was rejected by the other leaders of the 27-member bloc according to media reports.
According to a report in Politico, three additions to the Ukraine funding facility were made to win Orbán’s vote — an annual report by the European Commission on implementation of the aid package, debate at leaders’ level on implementation of the package if needed, and in two years, the European Council will ask the Commission to propose a review of the new budget.
A small group of EU leaders including Michel, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz held a consultation with Orbán before the EU Council meeting Thursday.
Final countdown to the #EUCO summit.
Consultations ongoing. pic.twitter.com/WcXLjhxViN
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) February 1, 2024
In December 2023, Orbán had walked out of the EU Council meeting during a discussion of the accession of Ukraine to the bloc, allowing the remaining heads to unanimously agree to open accession talks with Kyiv.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
Also read: MEA budget sees 35% cut in contributions to international bodies. UN, Nalanda University top list