"With this, we send a clear message: the Commission is ready to move forward," President Ursula von der Leyen wrote in a press release on Wednesday.
In practical terms, it involves a proposal for a 45 billion-euro loan to Ukraine this year, of which 28.3 billion will go to Ukraine's defense industry and 16.7 billion to additional civilian budget support. In parallel, proposals are included that allow Ukraine to make exceptions in the procurement of drones.
The proposals are now being sent to the Council of Ministers to get EU member states to say yes, something Hungary has loudly said it is unwilling to do as long as Russian oil is not allowed to flow through Ukraine.
