Brussels, 1 February 2024 (dpa/MIA) - All 27 European Union countries - including Hungary - agreed €50 billion ($54 billion) in aid for Ukraine at a summit in Brussels on Thursday, European Council President Charles Michel said.

"This locks in steadfast, long-term, predictable funding for Ukraine," Michel posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The EU is "taking leadership and responsibility in support for Ukraine," Michel added.

Defying expectations of lengthy negotiations, the EU quickly reached the deal at the summit, which was convened after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked the funding in December.

It is still unclear why the Hungarian leader agreed to drop his veto, and there were initially no statements from Hungarian officials.

The Hungarian leader has previously linked the EU budget negotiations with the disbursement of EU funds for his country, which had been frozen over corruption and abuse of power allegations.

The €50 billion sum is part of the EU's overall budget review. Decisions on the bloc's budget require unanimity from member states, meaning Hungary's dissent had caused major friction with fellow EU countries.

Orbán had described a previous proposal on funding for Ukraine as "anti-democratic" as it only required review after four years.

According to the agreement struck on Thursday, seen by dpa, EU leaders "will hold a debate each year" on the implementation of the funds for Ukraine until 2027.

The agreement details that "if needed, in two years the European Council will invite the Commission to make a proposal for review" of the funding.

Ahead of the summit, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk strongly criticized tactics used by Orbán.

"I mean, there's no problem with so called 'Ukraine' fatigue. For sure, we have Orbán fatigue now here in Brussels," he said. "I can't understand, I can't accept this very strange and very egoistic game of Viktor Orbán."

Talks to find a deal continued right up to the formal start of the summit. Orbán posted a picture of a "casual morning conversation" with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, among other EU leaders, on X, formerly Twitter.

The delay from December came at a bad time for Ukraine, with crucial Western support flagging.

New aid from the United States is tangled up in Congress and an EU scheme to send 1 million artillery rounds to Ukraine within a year failed to meet delivery targets.

Photo: MIA archive