BRUSSELS, January 5. /TASS/. The European Commission (EC) is preparing an alternative project of giving aid to Ukraine if the EU member-states do not agree to approve the 50 bln euro support program for the next four years at the summit on February 1, EC President Ursula von der Leyen said at a joint press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

"Yes and indeed, this is the first priority," von der Leyen said, referring to the consent of all the 27 member-states of the EU. "Of course we have to prepare for other options. These are the operational solutions that we are preparing right now," the EC President noted.

"Important is to know that we have just released before Christmas [January 25, 2023 - TASS] the last tranche of our 18 bln euro support package for Ukraine, for 2023. So this will help Ukraine finance their needs for the beginning of this year. This gives us a little bit of leeway," she added.