– This aid is the aid of 27 countries (Ed.) and it is very important that we have been able to maintain unity – the Prime Minister added. Donald Tusk recalled that the situation surrounding the conflict in Ukraine was not clear from the beginning in Europe. – It is not easy to make such difficult decisions in Brussels. But, this has changed, he said.
– This mood became clear. The EU is united in its efforts to help Ukraine. Today it turned out to be a well-prepared pressure and certainly from almost everyone, the 27th, sometimes looking for other solutions, to become part of a united society – we are talking about the Hungarians, said the Prime Minister.
– This decision is strategic, not tactical – said Donald Tusk. – Secondly, the era of obscurity and such strange games is over. “I am very proud to see Europe again with high quality,” Tusk said.
What convinced Viktor Orban? “I won't make any scenes for years”
Journalists asked Donald Tusk about the behind-the-scenes talks with Viktor Orbán and whether this was a sign of improved relations with the Hungarian prime minister. — I won't make any long-term scenarios that guarantee Viktor Orban will always play on the team. Some politicians also seem to be waiting for election results abroad, Tusk said. According to Tusk, the main argument that convinced the Hungarian Prime Minister was that all summit participants had a clear position from the beginning.
Donald Tusk noted that Germany's attitude has also changed, and that “Chancellor Scholz is very decisive and determined.”
Assistance Agreement for Ukraine
EU leaders meeting at the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday decided to increase the Community's multi-annual framework budget to EUR 64.6 billion by the end of 2027. Of this amount, 50 billion euros will be allocated in favor of Ukraine.
According to the summit results, the rest of the money will be used, among others: for assistance to neighboring countries for the Union (EUR 7.6 billion), to strengthen border security and prevent illegal immigration (EUR 2 billion), and EUR 1.5 billion for the European Defense Fund (EDF).
The agreement on aid to Ukraine was reached after negotiations in a small group before the official start of the summit. European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen held a closed-door meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, along with French, German and Italian presidents Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholes and Giorgia Meloni. . They were later joined by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rudd, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre de Groove.
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