Money will be sent “without problems” and soon
Portugal’s foreign minister Paulo Rangel has confirmed today that €1.4 billion (equivalent to the interest accrued on frozen Russian assets in Europe) will be sent to Ukraine “without problems” to help the country fighting against the Russian invasion.
Rangel was in Brussels, where he attended a meeting of EU foreign ministers to discuss the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
He stressed “the difficult months” Ukraine has been experiencing and the “remarkable degree of destruction of infrastructure” (particularly when it comes to power generating infrastructure) caused by Russia’s relentless bombing – which is why “a response is needed”.
e dubbed the decision to use the proceeds (interest) from Russia’s frozen assets as “highly positive” – in spite of the fury voiced by Russia (President Putin has called it ‘theft, and theft will not go unpunished’).
The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has equally confirmed that the first tranche (€1.4 billion) of interest will become available next week and must be “swiftly transferred.
“We decided to take this money – we are not going to reconsider a decision which has already been taken. Now, we have to implement this decision,” he said today.
As for the Middle East, Paulo Rangel said that a “Portuguese, Greek and Danish initiative was the subject of huge consensus, in the sense that we can strengthen support and institutionally empower the Palestinian authority to prepare for a two-State solution and a ceasefire.”
EU wants to get round Hungary’s block on aid to Ukraine
Mr Rangel also assured that the European Union is working on a “formula in which Hungary can abstain” from voting on aid to Ukraine – considering it is not impossible, but still necessary to “wait for the European Council”.
He also said that “perhaps, by the end of the week”, there could be some development.
According to Euronews: “For more than a year, Hungary has blocked provisions of aid under the European Peace Facility (EPF), creating a backlog of €6.6 billion. This prevents Member States from being partially reimbursed for the supplies they send to Kyiv.
“The protracted gridlock has become a public embarrassment for Brussels, which is now trying to find new ways to bypass Budapest”, and fast.
As Euronews explains: “On 1 July, Hungary will take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU and will be empowered to set the agenda, pushing forward the topics it favours and downgrading those it opposes”.
Today’s meeting took place in the context of the situations in the Middle East and in Georgia worsening, add reports in Portugal.
Source: SIC Notícias/ Euronews
