Putin: "Goals in Ukraine will be achieved", EU agrees 90bn deal for Kyiv
發佈日期: 2025-12-19 20:24
TVB News
Russia's President Vladimir Putin says an EU deal to loan Ukraine ninety billion Euros does not bring peace closer.
The money does not come from frozen Russian assets.
Until the last moment it wasn't clear if EU's leaders would get there.
The smiles indicated something was brewing.
After a day and night of conversations, as a self-imposed deadline approached, a deal struck for Ukraine.
Announced by Pertained of the European Council Antonio Costa :"We approved a decision to provide ninety billion Euros ($106 billion) to Ukraine for the next two years. A a matter of urgency, we will provide the loan backed by the European Union budget. This will address the urgent financial needs of Ukraine.
Costa says this show of support proves Europe is with Ukraine "today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes."
The enormous aid package will help Ukraine for the next two years.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Brussels to tell allies Ukraine needs the money by the spring to rebuild in the event of peace or to increase drone production if war continues.
It is plan B.
Zelenskyy wanted Europe it funded with frozen Russian assets.
Belgium, in particular, was firmly against using frozen Russian assets as he likely told Zelenskyy when they met ahead of the agreement.
Much, of the more than two hundred and ten billion euros of Russian money frozen by Europe during the war, is in the Belgian financial clearing house Euroclear.
Russia's Central Bank sued Euroclear last week.
Belgium's government felt using that money could spook global investors, weaken the currency and provoke a backlash from Moscow.
The prime minister admitted that failing to find a way to help Ukraine would have made the European Union irrelevant.
"We would have sent a message to the world that Europe can no longer deliver anything and that would also be a strategic disaster," said Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
"We have arrived at a solution that everyone can stand behind, okay, it took us a little bit of time, this is Europe. But, today everybody can leave this meeting room victoriously. I think Ukraine has won. It received an urgent, predictable and reliable financing it need for the next two years based on the EU borrowing on the capital markets backed by the EU budget headroom."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added: " The Immobilised Russian assets will remain immobilised and the Union reserves the right to make use of the cash to finance the loan. This is the solution we found together and we discussed in the last weeks, financing Ukraine beyond 2027will be part of the next MFF (Multiannual Financial framework) discussion."
Vladimir Putin up on to the stage and ready for his end of year press conference where the Russian President was asked about Europe's pledge.
"They (Ukraine and its allies} are refusing to end the conflict by peaceful means." Putin responded.
"Nevertheless we do feel there are signs from the Kyiv regime that they are ready to engage. I will say what I have always said: We are ready and willing to resolve the conflict by peaceful means on the basis of principles I have set out before."
