Germany blocks €9bn EU aid package for Ukraine
Germany is slowing down the allocation of 9bn Euro aid package to Kiev, which was decided at the EU summit in late June. According to the Corriere della Sera edition, which refers to its sources in Brussels and Kiev, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner does not approve of the intention of the European Commission to finance assistance to Kiev from the common European debt, as was already the case during the coronavirus pandemic, TASS reports.
So far, Germany has approved only the first tranche – worth 1bn Euros – which should go to Ukraine by the end of this month. At the same time, Kiev claims that the country needs $5bn monthly. According to Corriere della Sera, Ukraine may declare default in September.
The newspaper claims that the blocking of aid is causing irritation and nervousness of the Ukrainian authorities. Moreover, Kiev understands that Berlin wants to circumvent a number of sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation in the energy sector in order to guarantee gas supplies to Germany.
