European Council President Antonio Costa attends a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 18, 2025. The European Council on Friday approved a 90-billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S. dollars) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years. According to a European Council statement, the loan will be financed through European Union borrowing on the capital markets and backed by the EU budget "headroom," the unused margin in the budget that can be mobilized as a guarantee to support EU borrowing. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
BRUSSELS/KIEV, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The European Council on Friday approved a 90-billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S. dollars) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.
According to a European Council statement, the loan will be financed through European Union borrowing on the capital markets and backed by the EU budget "headroom," the unused margin in the budget that can be mobilized as a guarantee to support EU borrowing.
Because EU-level joint borrowing often hinges on unanimity, the statement adds that any EU budget guarantee for the loan "will not have an impact on the financial obligations" of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, an opt-out meant to secure their nod and keep the deal intact.
The statement noted that part of the Ukraine-related text was "firmly supported" by 25 leaders. However, Russia's TASS news agency reported that Hungary and Slovakia did not sign the joint statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday welcomed the EU's decision to provide the loan.
"This is significant support that truly strengthens our resilience," Zelensky wrote on X, adding that the deal provides Ukraine with a financial security guarantee for the coming years. ■
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (L) talks with Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk before a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 18, 2025. The European Council on Friday approved a 90-billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S. dollars) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.
According to a European Council statement, the loan will be financed through European Union borrowing on the capital markets and backed by the EU budget "headroom," the unused margin in the budget that can be mobilized as a guarantee to support EU borrowing. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz enters the venue of a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 18, 2025. The European Council on Friday approved a 90-billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S. dollars) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.
According to a European Council statement, the loan will be financed through European Union borrowing on the capital markets and backed by the EU budget "headroom," the unused margin in the budget that can be mobilized as a guarantee to support EU borrowing. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Kaja Kallas, the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy of the European Commission, enters the venue of a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 18, 2025. The European Council on Friday approved a 90-billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S. dollars) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.
According to a European Council statement, the loan will be financed through European Union borrowing on the capital markets and backed by the EU budget "headroom," the unused margin in the budget that can be mobilized as a guarantee to support EU borrowing. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
French President Emmanuel Macron attends a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 18, 2025. The European Council on Friday approved a 90-billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S. dollars) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.
According to a European Council statement, the loan will be financed through European Union borrowing on the capital markets and backed by the EU budget "headroom," the unused margin in the budget that can be mobilized as a guarantee to support EU borrowing. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden attends a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 18, 2025. The European Council on Friday approved a 90-billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S. dollars) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.
According to a European Council statement, the loan will be financed through European Union borrowing on the capital markets and backed by the EU budget "headroom," the unused margin in the budget that can be mobilized as a guarantee to support EU borrowing. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) talks with European Council President Antonio Costa during a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 18, 2025. The European Council on Friday approved a 90-billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S. dollars) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.
According to a European Council statement, the loan will be financed through European Union borrowing on the capital markets and backed by the EU budget "headroom," the unused margin in the budget that can be mobilized as a guarantee to support EU borrowing. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
European Council President Antonio Costa (C), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attend a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 18, 2025. The European Council on Friday approved a 90-billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S. dollars) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.
According to a European Council statement, the loan will be financed through European Union borrowing on the capital markets and backed by the EU budget "headroom," the unused margin in the budget that can be mobilized as a guarantee to support EU borrowing. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
European Council President Antonio Costa enters the venue of a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 18, 2025. The European Council on Friday approved a 90-billion-euro (about 105.4 billion U.S. dollars) loan package to support Ukraine's military and economic needs over the next two years.
According to a European Council statement, the loan will be financed through European Union borrowing on the capital markets and backed by the EU budget "headroom," the unused margin in the budget that can be mobilized as a guarantee to support EU borrowing. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
