'It's not a disaster': Irish PM assures future EU support for Ukraine despite Orban
Photo: Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Funding from the European Union will continue to reach Ukraine, despite the decision of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, to block the approval of a 50 billion euro aid package for the next four years, says the Prime Minister of Ireland, Leo Varadkar.
"It’s not a disaster in the sense that we can now roll over the loans to Ukraine. The money will continue to flow to Ukraine for the next couple of months. And hopefully when we come back here in January or February we’ll be able to agree a package of financial support for Ukraine," he said.
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 approve 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.
