Belgian PM: EU needs more weeks to agree on aid to Ukraine

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo has said that the European Union (EU) will need more weeks to agree on funding for Ukraine in the long term.

He emphasized that representatives of the regional commonwealth needed to solve several more issues to make this decision, TASS reports.

At the same time, as the head of the government said, he is confident in Brussels' ability to complete the process in early 2024.

"We will need more weeks to agree on financial assistance <...> I think it will be possible to do it at the beginning of the Belgian presidency [of the EU Council]," the prime minister explained.

Belgium will lead the EU Council from January 1 next year. In accordance with the internal statute of the organization, the kingdom will continue to perform the relevant functions until June 30.

December 14 in Brussels started the summit of prime ministers and heads of state - members of the regional commonwealth, which is the final one of the current year. One of the key issues that was planned to be considered at the event was the agreement on the EU budget assistance program for Ukraine for 2024-2027.