Latest news on Russia and the war in Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden called top European Union leader Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday to praise the institution’s approval of a 50 billion euro ($54 billion) package of aid for Ukraine.

Biden commended the EU’s “steadfast support for Ukraine,” while European Commission President von der Leyen stressed the importance of sustained U.S. support for the country.

White House spokesperson John Kirby separately told reporters that the European Union’s support is “not a substitute for American leadership when it comes to security assistance,” and said it was critical that the U.S. Congress approves additional funding.

— Jenni Reid

A Russian strike killed two French volunteer aid workers on Thursday in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, the regional governor and other officials said.

Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said the Russian attack on the town of Beryslav killed the two French nationals and wounded three other foreigners.

Prosecutors in the region said Russian forces launched a mass drone attack in the area at about 4 p.m. Police said a Ukrainian national was also wounded.

Reuters could not independently verify details of the incident, but Russian forces engage in frequent shelling of parts of Kherson region now held by Ukraine.

Beryslav is located on the western bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson region, which was abandoned by Russian forces in late 2022.

Ukrainian troops have since established positions on the eastern bank, but Russian forces continue heavy shelling of other parts of Kherson region from areas they hold on the eastern side.

— Reuters

Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Thursday that financial aid from the European Union and the United States was “critically important” for maintaining macroeconomic stability and ensuring growth.

“It is very important for us to maintain macroeconomic stability. It is a prerequisite for economic growth,” Svyrydenko, who is also the economy minister, told Reuters in an interview.

“Partners’ aid is critically important to maintain this stability,” she said, adding that she expected the United States to follow the example of the EU, which approved a 50 billion euro four-year aid package for Ukraine earlier on Thursday.

-Reuters

Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban took to social media Thursday afternoon to break his silence over the European Union’s earlier agreed 50 billion euro ($54 billion) support package for Ukraine, saying that the deal would not include funds from Budapest.

Orban said on Facebook, according to a translation, that a “control mechanism” had been negotiated for the use of funds, which guarantees that “Hungary’s money can’t end up in Ukraine.”

Orban has been a sole holdout in passing the funding package for Ukraine, blocking the plans at the group’s last meeting in December.

His political director, Balázs Orbán (no relation) said in a social media post that the funding agreement would be renegotiated after one year, and that it would be reconsidered full after two years, “in the context of the EU budget for the next period.”

— Karen Gilchrist

EU member states on Thursday agreed on an additional aid package totaling 50 billion euros ($54 billion) for Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel said on social media.

“All 27 leaders agreed on an additional €50 billion support package for Ukraine within the EU budget,” he said. “This locks in steadfast, long-term, predictable funding for #Ukraine. EU is taking leadership & responsibility in support for Ukraine; we know what is at stake.”

EU leaders have been struggling to reach a consensus over the support package, amid opposition from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban who vetoed the aid deal in December. Hungary wants to have an annual review that would allow it a right to veto the disbursements each year, Reuters has reported.

— Ruxandra Iordache