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Brussels (APA) – Austria’s Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker welcomes the compromise reached by the EU summit to support Ukraine. The funding for Ukraine for the years 2026 and 2027 is secured as promised, he said on Friday in Brussels. Stocker emphasized that the approved 90 billion euros in joint borrowing meant “no immediate burden on the Austrian taxpayer” from the budget.
At the same time, the solution also ensured that the frozen Russian assets would remain frozen and could also be used so that the repayment of this loan could be made from them. “It is a very good solution that has been found here,” said the Austrian Federal Chancellor. “We promised that we would deliver, and the European Union has shown that it is capable of making decisions and can also deliver.”
The figure of 90 billion euros was agreed upon based on Ukraine’s needs; this was set at this level for two years. The use of the loan will not immediately amount to 90 billion euros, but will take place gradually over two years. The use of this loan is covered by the budget of the European Union, Stocker emphasized: “That means not by the Austrian budget or by the budget of a member state, but by the European budget.”
“Many risks to consider”
The direct use of frozen Russian assets, favored by many EU states but legally controversial and blocked by Belgium, was not decided by the summit. “We made a modification because many risks naturally had to be considered and there were also different views on these risks,” said Stocker. The goal is to achieve peace and to ensure that Ukraine does not have to conduct these negotiations with its back financially against the wall.
Regarding the postponement announced at the summit of the signing of the EU-South America trade agreement Mercosur, Stocker said, “obviously not all negotiations have yet been concluded.” There is still some need for changes or improvements in this agreement. Austria has a parliamentary resolution, “for us that is also clear.” Representatives of Austria are bound at EU level to a veto by a valid parliamentary resolution from 2019.
The signing of the Mercosur agreement, originally planned for Saturday, is being postponed. This was announced by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the EU summit in Brussels. The Italian head of government Giorgia Meloni had previously made her approval conditional on requirements relating to agriculture. (19.12.2025)