The 27 countries of the European Union (EU) reached an agreement on Thursday on aid of 50 billion euros over four years for Ukraine, until then blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, announced Thursday 1st February, the President of the European Council Charles Michel.

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

"Unity. All 27 leaders agreed on an additional envelope of 50 billion euros to support Ukraine within the framework of the EU budget. This agreement guarantees stable, predictable and sustainable financing. long term for Ukraine", he wrote on X, at the start of an extraordinary summit in Brussels.

For his part, the Ukrainian Prime Minister welcomed the release of aid of 50 billion euros, kyiv seeing it as a "contribution" to a "common victory" over Russia.

“EU member states are once again showing their solidarity and unity (...) to help the Ukrainian people resist the war” with Moscow, declared Denys Chmygal on X. “Each of your votes is a significant contribution to our common victory,” he added.

Viktor Orban, alone among the Twenty-Seven to have maintained close ties with Moscow after the launch of the invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago, aroused the anger and exasperation of his counterparts meeting in December last by opposing this essential financial support for Kiev.

The Hungarian leader is accused in Brussels of blackmailing the EU to obtain the release of European funds intended for his country but frozen due to the breaches of the rule of law criticized in Budapest.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk echoed growing impatience. “We are not tired of Ukraine, we are tired of Orban,” he declared, denouncing the latter’s “strange and selfish game”.

European aid intended for Ukraine (33 billion in loans and 17 billion in donations) is included in an extension to the EU budget until 2027.

Support that kyiv desperately needs to keep its economy afloat, while an American aid package is blocked in Congress.

With AFP

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