Hungary remains isolated in the EU over support for Ukraine, European Council President Antonio Costa said at a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the end of a meeting of European leaders in Brussels, BTA reported.
The meeting participants adopted a document noting that the EU maintains its approach to "peace through strength" in Ukraine so that the country is in the strongest possible position. This document was not supported only by Budapest.
Hungary has a different position on how to help Ukraine achieve peace, Costa said. We respect differences, but we cannot be blocked because Hungary thinks differently from the rest, he explained.
Von der Leyen announced that the Ukrainian military industry will be able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the EC for rearmament and acquisition of ammunition, drones, and air defense systems. The funds earmarked for this purpose must be invested in European production, we want the investments made to be returned, lead to job creation, and promote scientific research in the EU, the Commission President specified.
In the summer, the EC will propose the new EU budget until 2032, with the current multiannual budget being 1.3 trillion euros, and loans for 800 billion euros must also be repaid. This must be taken into account, we need a budget sufficient to fulfill many obligations, said Von der Leyen. She called for consideration of the 2021 proposal for the so-called "own resources", which envisages the introduction of an additional tax burden to provide revenue for the EU treasury.
The EC President specified that today the possibilities for reducing the import of fossil fuels were discussed, because they increase energy prices. According to her, the EU needs to develop nuclear and renewable energy for this purpose.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced in Brussels that a summit will be held in Paris next Thursday with the participation of his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and allies of Kiev, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
“Next Thursday we will hold a summit of the “coalition of the willing“, the French leader said at the end of the European summit in Brussels.
“The goal for me on Thursday is, above all, to ensure that there is a real and clear commitment, and perhaps a little more specific, for short-term support for Ukraine“, Macron added.
He added that he would visit Egypt on April 7 and 8, where he would discuss, among other things, the Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, reported Agence France-Presse.
“I will go on a state visit to Egypt on April 7 and 8, where I will have talks dedicated to this topic“, the French leader told the media at the end of the European summit.