A new package of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 50 billion euros will not be used to purchase weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but to support the Ukrainian economy, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.
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“These 50 billion euros in question will not be spent on weapons, but will be used to ensure that the bankrupt Ukrainian state does not collapse. Ukraine, in terms of the Ukrainian economy, has collapsed <…> If the Americans and we, the Europeans, do not send weapons, you can close the shop, this means that there are no pensions, no payments, no hospitals, nothing,” he said.
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According to Orban, time is on Russia’s side, and the balance of power will not change in favor of Kyiv, even though the EU thinks differently.
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The day before, all 27 EU leaders at a summit in Brussels agreed to allocate 50 billion euros to Ukraine. Hungary, which previously blocked most decisions on Ukraine, nevertheless agreed to this step.
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Macro-financial assistance to Ukraine (17 billion in the form of grants and 33 billion in loans) is designed for 2024-2027, subject to annual reporting by the European Commission and debates in the European Council. The EU will approve and suspend payments by a qualified majority.
