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EU leaders have found ways to circumvent Hungary’s veto after negotiations for a €50 billion package for Ukraine collapsed at the mid-December summit.
Germany expects EU member states to proceed with their next round of support for Ukraine regardless, even if Hungary continues to block unanimous decisions by the 26 EU members.
A potential Plan B, voiced, involves member states channeling money to Ukraine outside the EU’s budgetary process.
This was highlighted by Christian Wagner, a spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry. Speaking at a regular government press conference in Berlin, he announced that Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government will provide military support of €8 billion to Ukraine in 2024. Berlin will also continue an “energetic campaign” for the adoption of a larger €50 billion EU aid package at the beginning of next year.
“The EU will continue its support to Ukraine in any case,” added Wagner. “EU-26 will of course be able to act. But I don’t want to speculate now on how such support could be organized. This also requires further consultations in Brussels.”
Ukraine seeks to manage its state expenses and military resources as the war nears the two-year mark. Currently, over $110 billion in financial aid from the US and EU remains stalled due to political disputes in Washington and Brussels.
After its counteroffensive failed to dislodge Russian forces from the occupied eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, frontline fighting has seen minimal progress.
Yesterday, the US provided Ukraine with $250 million worth of arms as part of its latest package for 2023. Drawn from Pentagon stocks, the package includes artillery ammunition, air defense systems, anti-tank ammunition, and over 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition. Among the offered weaponry are Javelin anti-tank systems and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
According to the administration, the US has provided Ukraine with approximately $44.3 billion in military aid since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
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