Prime Minister Golob: "We want to see peace in Ukraine as soon as possible"

SLOVENIA, December 19 - "In the end, the best solution turned out to be to find the means to support Ukraine within the European budget," the Prime Minister said in a press statement after the meeting. He added that frozen Russian assets remain the most powerful negotiating lever for ensuring discussions on peace in Ukraine. "I believe this is also the most important message. We truly wish for peace to be achieved in Ukraine as quickly as possible, and I think that, as of today, the chances of that are somewhat higher," he stressed.

The Prime Minister went on to explain that the decision taken on joint borrowing means that the funds would be found within the European budget for the next two years. "Unlike the previous scheme, where each country would have to provide a government guarantee to protect the loan to Ukraine, this option has now been dropped. The funds will now be provided in the European budget," he said. 

The Prime Minister said that the European Commission would probably look for funding on the financial market, but that the most important thing was that it was protected within the European budget. "That is to say, no additional safeguards are needed from Member States," he stressed. 

On frozen Russian assets, the Prime Minister said that they remain frozen. "Their primary purpose is for them to be used for war reparations or the reconstruction of Ukraine once peace is established. If a suitable opportunity arises in the meantime, I believe that it can also be re-analysed. There is no need to further mobilise these funds at this point in time", the Prime Minister stated clearly. 

Prime Minister Golob stressed that he was satisfied with the agreement to seek funding for support for Ukraine within the European budget. "I am satisfied with this solution. I had quietly anticipated it in the morning, but the process had to be finalised before promises could be made," he clarified.