2023-12-15 20:51:09
EU will help Ukraine “whatever happens”, promises Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, speaks to the press after the European Council, in Brussels, Friday December 15, 2023. JOHN THYS / AFP
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, assured Friday that the EU would find a solution to release the 50 billion euros in aid promised to Ukraine, despite the veto of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
A future meeting of heads of state and government of the European Union, at the beginning of 2024, should make it possible to release this aid. “Until then, we will ensure that, whatever happens, we will have an operational solution at this summit”declared Mrs von der Leyen.
“We are working very hard, of course, to reach an agreement between the twenty-seven member states, but I think it is also necessary to work on alternatives in order to have an operational solution in case an agreement is reached. twenty-seven would not be possible »she said, during a press conference organized after a European summit.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said he was “extremely confident and optimistic” on the EU’s ability to keep its commitments to Ukraine “with financial means in the coming weeks”.
“It is possible for twenty-six Member States to provide the money on a bilateral basis, without going through (…) EU structures. There are workarounds »assured for his part the Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, judging everything “still possible to reach an agreement at twenty-seven”.
Viktor Orban demanded on Friday the payment of “all funds” European cohesion plans intended for Hungary which have been suspended pending reforms, before possibly considering lifting its veto on new aid for Ukraine.
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