Upcoming EU summit aims to coordinate financial aid for Ukraine, Scholz says
Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz states today, January 24, that the goal of the February special summit of the European Union is to coordinate financial assistance for Ukraine among all member countries of the bloc, according to Reuters.
According to the head of the German government, the upcoming summit, scheduled for next week, aims to unlock the allocation of macrofinancial assistance to Ukraine as envisaged by Brussels. It was also revealed today that Scholz had a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which the parties discussed defense cooperation, strengthening military support, and the issue of providing macrofinancial assistance to Ukraine from the EU.
Earlier on Wednesday, a spokesman for the German government stated that additional arms deliveries to Ukraine to counter large-scale military aggression from Russia would also be a topic of discussion during the meeting of EU member countries' leaders.
Blocking 50 billion euros from the EU for Ukraine
In mid-December 2023, at the summit of EU leaders, Hungary blocked the decision to allocate 50 billion euros to Ukraine for the years 2024-2027. Now the issue of aid to Ukraine will be considered at the EU summit on February 1.
At the same time, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatens to block it. Budapest demands from the EU, in exchange for approving the package.
In this context, the European Parliament initiated the collection of signatures for a petition to deprive Hungary of the right to vote in the EU Council, and the necessary number of signatures has already been collected.
It was also reported that on January 17, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed confidence that all EU members would approve 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine.
Additionally, according to Bloomberg, the EU government is ready for radical action if Hungarian Prime Minister Orban continues to block the aid package to Ukraine.
More details on how the EU is negotiating with Ukraine and whether Orban will be deprived of veto rights - read RBC-Ukraine's material.
