The EU has agreed on an agreement for further aid to Ukraine. Chancellor Scholz was very satisfied afterwards. The agreement could now also serve as an argumentative aid for US President Biden in Congress.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was satisfied with the results of the special EU summit in Brussels. The fact that the 27 member states have cleared the way for new billions in aid for Ukraine is good news for the European Union and good news for Ukraine, he said in Brussels. “It was a very successful summit.”
The EU heads of state and government had previously cleared the way for new aid after a week-long blockade by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The right-wing populist withdrew his veto against a financial aid package worth 50 billion euros. It is intended to help ensure that the Ukrainian state does not go bankrupt despite the huge costs of defending against the Russian war of aggression.
“We now have Orban fatigue in Brussels”
Regarding Orban’s blockade, Scholz said that “part of every good cooperation is that we pull ourselves together.” He also knows this from national debates, explained the Chancellor with regard to the traffic light coalition’s disputes. The citizens also wanted to hear that something was working, “and now it has worked.”
More clear criticism of the Hungarian head of government came from Poland. “There is no problem with the issue of so-called Ukraine fatigue,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk. “We now have Orban fatigue in Brussels. I cannot understand it. I cannot accept this very strange and very selfish game by Viktor Orban.”
In return for Orban’s approval, the other EU states agreed to discuss the implementation of the aid program for Ukraine once a year at a top level. There should also be the possibility of a revision in two years. According to the compromise text, it will only be used if all 27 EU states see the need for it.
Scholz criticizes Borrell
With a view to his upcoming trip to the US, Chancellor Scholz made it clear that the EU decision could make it easier for US President Joe Biden to wrestle with Congress for new aid to Ukraine. The US contribution to Ukraine is “still urgently needed,” said Scholz. The Chancellor is traveling to the USA from February 8th to 10th at Biden’s invitation.
The Chancellor also expressed his satisfaction with his push for more bilateral military aid from EU countries for Ukraine, even if he could not yet report on any concrete commitments.
However, Scholz criticized EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell. His statements about 21 billion euros in planned EU military aid to Ukraine are “difficult to understand”. Apparently Borrell has included the seven billion euros from Germany for this year as well as the German commitment appropriations of six billion euros, which would mean that the federal government would be responsible for almost half of the funds. Borrell did not provide a detailed list.