Friday 19 / December / 2025
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the European Council's decision to grant Ukraine a €90 billion loan a "decisive message for an end to the war."
The interest-free loan is enough to cover Ukraine's military and budgetary needs for the next two years, he pointed out in a statement.
And Russian President Vladimir Putin "will only make concessions once he realizes his war will not pay off," Merz said.
"If Russia does not pay reparations we will — in full accordance with international law — make use of Russian immobilized assets for paying back the loan," Merz added.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized the EU's decision on the €90 billion loan to Ukraine.
"It's lost money," said Orban, who is seen as one of Russia's closest allies in Europe.
"The good news is that we're staying out," he said.
Hungary, along with Slovakia and the Czech Republic, were given an exemption from the loan commitment to avoid them blocking the decision.
Any decisions on the use of the EU's own finances require a unanimous vote from all 27 member states.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the deal on Ukraine funding as a major advance.
He called the decision to give Ukraine an interest-free loan, which is only repayable if Russia pays repatriations, the "most realistic and practical way" to fund Ukraine and its war efforts.
He added that the deal included a mechanism to protect three countries — Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic — from any financial fallout.
Macron also said it he believed it would be "useful" for Europe to reengage with Russian President Vladimir Putin "coming weeks."
"I believe that it's in our interest as Europeans and Ukrainians to find the right framework to reengage this discussion," he said.
US talks with both Russian and Ukrainian officials gained speed in recent weeks, but have failed to bring a substantial change to the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.
https://p.dw.com/p/55g9d
