European Union leaders pledge 50 billion euros in aid for Ukraine, overcoming prior disagreement

Reports from Brussels indicate that this aid agreement for Ukraine arrived after negotiations conducted within a select group. These discussions occurred before the official start of the summit.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen - along with leaders of France, Germany, and Italy, namely Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, and Giorgia Meloni - held a private meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The meeting was later joined by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte; the head of the Polish government, Donald Tusk; and the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo.

At the preceding European Council meeting in December, Hungary had impeded EU aid totaling 50 billion euros. At that time, Budapest demanded provisions such as off-budget EU aid and an annual review of the disbursement decision.

On Thursday, after the official conclusion of the summit, Tusk clarified that Orban received no compensation for his change of heart.

"We aim to support Ukraine in its ensuing wartime efforts against Russia. This unity needs to extend to all 27 members of the Community, steering clear of all forms of paybacks or pursuit of ill-conceived compromises," asserted the head of the Polish government.

Source: PAP/WP News