The European Council
unanimously gives the green light
to a new 50 billion euro aid package for Ukraine.
Hungarian leader Viktor Orban also signs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejoices.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni protagonist of the mediation.
Next week the US Senate will vote on funding for Kiev.
Two Frenchmen died and other foreigners were injured in a Russian attack near Kherson
, Ukrainian authorities said, reporting that they were 'foreign volunteers' hit in an attack on Beryslav.
The Ukrainian national police reported that two men of French nationality died following a drone attack and that three men and a woman were injured, announcing on Telegram the opening of an investigation for violation of the laws and customs of war.
“All victims had come to the Kherson region as volunteers,” Ukrainian police added.
Beryslav, which before the war had about 12 thousand inhabitants, is located on the northern bank of the Dnipro River, near the front line.
“We have an agreement.
All 27 leaders agreed on
an additional support package of 50 billion euros for Ukraine within the EU budget
. This ensures constant, long-term and predictable financing for Ukraine. 'Ukraine. The EU is taking on leadership and responsibility for supporting Ukraine": this was announced by
the President of the European Council Charles Michel
.
Italy also participated in achieving the final result by mediating with
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban
who declared that Budapest had obtained a "guarantee" that its EU funds will not go to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Meloni
said she was satisfied with the agreement reached on the money in Kiev.
"It wasn't easy, a solution of 26 was a problem, a dangerous precedent, we worked hard for a solution of 27 and we are very satisfied."
Viktor Orban's Fidesz party in the ECR group?
"It's an open debate, but it's not a debate of these days, it's possibly a debate that will open after the European Championships."
Orban's response was not long in coming.
"The idea was to join before, but at this point we will do so after the elections.
However the answer is yes, we are ready and will join the European Conservatives".
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated this in a conversation in Brussels with La Repubblica and La Stampa who asked him if after the European elections his Fidesz party will join the ECR group led by Giorgia Meloni.
Video Fondi, Meloni: 'Satisfied with the unitary EU solution'
With Orban "I worked trying to bring us to a point that would allow us not to divide Europe at a time like this. Because we have other problems in Europe, we need to know how to dialogue with everyone and I believe that what has happened in the last few hours demonstrates , which is what I have always maintained, that you cannot think of solving problems by talking to two or three people but you must have the ability to dialogue with everyone", underlined Meloni.
PRESS POINT BY GIORGIA MELONI
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Tajani in Parliament on 8 February.
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The claims underlying the tractor protests are also addressed.
"I was the political leader of the party that voted against most of the
issues now criticized by farmers in the EU.
In Italy we have already done our best but
European politics must be changed
, I asked for greater efforts but a change of line it may arrive after the European elections in the hope that a different approach from the ideological one seen so far will prevail."
Thus Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, at the end of the EU Council, assessed the farmers' protest which today set Brussels on fire.
"A lot of mistakes were made in Europe when ecological sustainability was supported without supporting social sustainability - said Meloni -.
Of course in Italy we worked, we increased the Pnrr resources for the agricultural fund from 5 to 8 billion, we were committed on agrisolare, on supply chain contracts
: we have done a job that is recognized by farmers. In some European countries, farmers are protesting because subsidies on diesel fuel have not been extended: we have done so".
On migrants "we asked for more resources" and now "there are 10 billion more" and "8 are dedicated to the external dimension", that is to "work to prevent" migratory flows.
Thus Giorgia Meloni after the EU Council in Brussels.
For further information Agenzia ANSA Tractors on the streets of Brussels, blockades, fires and throwing of bottles.
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