On February 1, at the extraordinary EU summit held in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, the leaders of the 27 EU countries unanimously agreed to provide Ukraine with additional aid of 50 billion euros within the EU budget, which is the largest financial support of the EU to Ukraine, and it is also a strong signal from the EU to Ukraine in the context of the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, the Russian side does not buy this, believing that this aid will not change the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, but the practice of the United States to transfer support for Ukraine to European taxpayers.
The EU's decision came after difficult negotiations, as Hungary had been opposed to the aid package, arguing that the EU should first address its own economic and social problems rather than provide large amounts of aid to other countries. In order to convince Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, European Commission President von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, France's Macron, Italian Prime Minister Meloni and others met with him on the eve of the summit and promised to discuss the plan of the aid agreement every year, and allow a request for a review of aid if necessary, but Hungary cannot veto aid. Orban eventually accepted the compromise and said Hungary was assured that its EU money would not go to Ukraine.
This EU aid will be used mainly to cover Ukraine's budget deficit, as well as to support Ukraine's economic reforms and social development. EU Council President Charles Michel said on social media that this would provide Ukraine with "stable, long-term, and affordable funding" and demonstrated the EU's leadership and sense of responsibility in supporting Ukraine. Ukraine** Zelensky and Prime Minister Shmygal also expressed their gratitude to the EU on social media, saying that the decision was made jointly by the leaders of all 27 countries, which once again proves the strong unity of the EU and is of great significance for the long-term economic and financial stability of Ukraine. Ukraine expects to receive the first tranche of 4.5 billion euros in the aid package as early as March.
This decision of the European Union was also made when the US aid program was blocked by Congress. U.S.** Biden announced in December last year that he would provide $61 billion in military and economic assistance to Ukraine to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to defend itself against Russian "aggression." However, this aid plan has been opposed by the US Congress, especially Republicans, who believe that Biden has not fully considered the interests and security of the United States, and has not effectively monitored corruption and human rights in Ukraine. At present, this aid package has not been approved by the US Congress, and Ukraine urgently needs European assistance to keep the economy running.
The Russian side is not surprised and not worried by this decision of the European Union. Russian press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on the 1st that the Kremlin is paying attention to the news in Brussels, but this is obviously a process of trying to shift the financial burden, and Washington will transfer its support for the Ukrainian regime to European taxpayers. Klimov, deputy chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament), said that the 50 billion euros provided by the EU cannot be called aid to Ukraine, but the funds of the West to wage war against Russia through the hands of Ukrainians.
He said that the money from the EU will not be disbursed immediately, but 12.5 billion euros per year for 4 years, and mainly loans, and Ukraine will increase its national debt and will be forced to pay interest. Russia's absatz network quoted Zhuravlev, an associate professor at the Russian Federation's ** University of Finance and Finance, as saying on the 1st that the financial assistance provided by the EU will not change the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, because the money will be used to pay wages and repay past debts, not to buy ** and equipment. He said that Russia's purpose is already clear, it is not to occupy Ukraine, but to hope that Ukraine will become a neutral country in the future, not joining NATO, and not posing a threat to Russia.