The EU has pledged several billion euros in financial support for the fight against Russia and for the reconstruction of Ukraine. But the payout doesn’t seem to go as promised. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy complained on Thursday of an “artificial delay”. This is either “a crime or a mistake”.
Every day he reminds EU politicians that Ukrainian pensioners, refugees, teachers and others should not be held hostage by “indecision or bureaucracy”. “I don’t want to say which European country is braking now,” Zelenskyy said in a video address on his Facebook page. He still assumes it’s a bug that can be corrected. Two days earlier, the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Ihor Zhovkwa, blamed Germany for the slow payment. Only one billion out of the nine billion in EU macro-financial aid has been disbursed.
The German Ministry of Finance rejected the claim. According to the EU Commission, guarantees from Member States may be required for the outstanding amount, as it is not possible to secure it through the EU budget.
New sanctions against ex-president
Meanwhile, the EU has again imposed sanctions on former Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych and his son. The sanctions include asset freezes in the EU and travel bans. According to a decision published Thursday evening, father and son are responsible for supporting and carrying out actions that threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
According to various sources, Viktor Yanukovych was recently part of a Russian special operation aimed at reinstating him as president during the first phase of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The 72-year-old considers himself the rightful president of Ukraine and has always been pro-Russian in his public appearances, the EU said. His 49-year-old son continues to pursue business activities in separatist-controlled Donbass, notably in the energy, coal, construction, banking and real estate sectors.
EU court overturned previous sanctions
The EU had already imposed sanctions on Yanukovych and his son several times in the past. However, some of these have been annulled by the EU Court for procedural errors.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
