Summary
EU leaders agreed to give Ukraine €90 billion in loans to help it financially survive while under attack. Some countries, like Hungary and Slovakia, only agreed to the deal if they wouldn’t have to contribute, showing divisions among EU countries about how to handle Russia and support Ukraine.
Key Facts
- EU leaders agreed on a €90 billion loan to aid Ukraine for the next two years.
- The loan will come from the EU's common budget and will carry no interest.
- Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic wanted exemptions from contributing to the loan.
- Hungary and Slovakia have closer ties with Russia compared to other EU countries like Poland and the Baltic States.
- The EU considered using €210 billion in frozen Russian assets for the loan but chose not to due to legal concerns.
- President Zelensky told the EU that the financial support is essential to keep paying soldiers and buying weapons.
- Without US military aid, Ukraine is seeking support from Europe.
- The EU is also looking for non-EU countries like the UK, Japan, and Canada to help with additional financial needs.
