The agreement that was reached in Brussels was under question due to the opposition of Hungary. Kyiv receives an additional 50 billion euros
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that the bloc's 27 members had reached an agreement to provide Ukraine with an additional 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in aid.
The agreement, reached at a summit of European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels on February 1, was under question due to opposition from Hungary.
“We have a deal…. This locks in steady, long-term, predictable funding for Ukraine. EU takes leadership and responsibility in supporting Ukraine; we know what's at risk," Michel wrote in a post on Network 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
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vetoed the 50 billion euro aid package for Ukraine in December.
Criticism of Hungary
Ahead of the start of a summit on the financial aid Ukraine desperately needs, Hungary and its Prime Minister Orban have faced a barrage of criticism.
"I mean, there is no problem with the so-called 'Ukraine' fatigue." Of course, we are tired of Orbán now here in Brussels... I cannot understand, I cannot accept this very strange and very egotistical game of Viktor Orbán," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said after arriving at the summit.
"We have to play hard and fair, but there is no room for compromise." There is no middle ground: you are either on the Ukrainian side or on the Russian side," he added, saying "there is no plan B."
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that she does not want to use the word blackmail when it comes to Orban, but that she does not know which word would be more suitable.
December veto
In addition to Orban's veto in December, another problem for Kyiv is that the bill on spending that includes $61 billion in aid to Ukraine has been blocked in the US Congress, due to the opposition of Republican lawmakers.
Orban, the only EU leader who maintains warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been constantly at odds with other European leaders over aid measures for Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion.
He expressed opposition to EU sanctions against Russia and even floated the idea of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev
At the summit, the leaders of the 27-member bloc must vote unanimously for an aid package for Ukraine that would come from the EU's joint budget.
Budapest has indicated it would agree to the package in Brussels if the budget review was held annually, giving Orban the right to veto it, but the EU has so far only agreed to an annual debate on aid.
Orban, a right-wing populist in power since 2010, has faced criticism that his opposition to EU aid to Ukraine is an attempt to blackmail the bloc into paying billions of euros in EU funds to Hungary that Brussels has frozen over rule of law and democracy issues.
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