MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. Several European countries have found themselves in a difficult position following Zelensky’s request for an additional €70 billion, with a number of states already ruling out participation in the proposed loan, Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports.
According to the publication, European officials currently have no funds available to allocate to Ukraine. "We don’t know where to find the money," the newspaper quoted a senior European Council official as saying.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that EU member states pledged €90 billion in aid to Ukraine just a few months ago, to be disbursed over the next two years.
Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have already declined to participate in the proposed loan, the report said. The issue is also particularly sensitive for countries facing upcoming elections, including Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Poland. According to La Repubblica, their governments are finding it increasingly difficult to justify continued financial support for Ukraine to voters.