The leaders of the European Union have all agreed to grant a €50 Billion aid package to Ukraine to assist the country by helping to strengthen its economic and financial stability. The funds will help build upon prior support from other European aid, as well as the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to continue to help Ukraine pay for things like teacher salaries, buildings to be reconstructed, and the general functioning of the economy. Part of the new deal is that there will be a yearly discussion of the package, as well as the option to review it in two years. President Zelenskyy's reaction to this welcome news for his country indicates that Ukraine appreicates the assistance as the war with Russia drags on.
The announcement comes as some surprise as many observers had been expecting discussion on the particulars of the aid package to take longer to negotiate, given that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban previously blocked a financial aid package back in December and threatened to do so again. Indeed, concerns that the leader of Hungary would act in such a manner again prompted several European leaders to lash out at him prior to the most recent meeting, accusing him of engaging in blackmail and playing political games that led to a reduction in support of Ukraine in the midst of its war with Russia. These tensions come at a time when a number of EU prime ministers have warned that they have already fallen short of ammunition promises to Ukraine, and the world as a whole is increasingly unsure as to who is winning.