Olusegun Ariyo
Ukraine will get more than $33 billion in assistance from European allies, France’s President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after the Special European Council summit in Brussels, the French leader said the aid would be taken from sanctioned Russian assets.
Property and other assets worth billions of dollars were seized by countries in the European Union following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Macron said part of the proceeds has been approved for Ukraine, stating that the priority is to support Ukraine and its troops “in the very short term.”
The President further disclosed, “In 2025, the EU will provide Ukraine with 30.6 billion euros, financed by Russian assets.”
At Thursday’s meeting, Hungary abstained as 26 European nations endorsed a communique on a peace deal that respects “Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
All 27 leaders of Europe, however, urged the European Commission to find new ways to “facilitate significant defense spending at national level in all Member States.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the session, and thanked the EU leaders for their support amid his frosty relationship with President Donald Trump.
“During this period, and last week, you stayed with us,” the Head of State said. “From all the Ukrainians, big appreciation; We are very thankful that we are not alone.”
The United States has paused military aid to Ukraine, as well as intelligence sharing. Officials of both countries are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia next week.
