EU working on 'alternative' ways to aid Ukraine in case of no unanimity
Photo: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (Getty Images)
The European Commission is working on potential alternatives in case there is no unanimous support within the EU for allocating a 50 billion euro aid package to Ukraine. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, made this statement, reports The Guardian.
She emphasized that the EU is working diligently to achieve a result where consensus is reached among the 27 member countries.
"But I think it is now also necessary to work on potential alternatives, to have an operational solution in case that an agreement by 27 – so, unanimity – is not possible," von der Leyen added.
Aid to Ukraine from the EU
The European Commission proposed allocating 50 billion euros to Ukraine over the next five years, a decision that requires approval from all countries. However, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has close ties to the Kremlin, vetoed the proposal.
Earlier, Hungary threatened not to agree to the allocation of 50 billion euros to Ukraine. It also demanded that the EU unfreeze 30 billion euros earmarked for Budapest. The European Commission partially met the demand and unfroze 10 billion euros. To unfreeze the remaining funds in Hungary, certain conditions must be met.
Additionally, EU leaders reached "broad agreement" on the budget for the multi-year financial program.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already welcomed the EU's decision to create the Ukrainian Fund of 50 billion euros for the years 2024-2027.
In response, the Prime Minister of Ireland, Leo Varadkar, stated that EU funding will continue to flow to Ukraine, despite the decision of Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban.
