Poland's surprising opposition to the EU plan to support Ukraine creates new obrstacles for the EU

"New obstacles stand in the way of the European plan to support Ukraine with 18 billion euros in 2023," Al Mayadeen's delegate to Brussels confirmed on Thursday, pointing out that this came after a "surprising" objection by Poland to the EU package deal.

Members of the European Parliament gave their approval on November 24 to a loan of 18 billion euros to help Ukraine during the war.

The European Council announced on Saturday that it was approving a package of documents allowing the European Union to provide Ukraine with $18.9 billion of credit support in 2023.

The council issued a statement saying it had "reached an agreement on a legislative package which will enable the EU to help Ukraine financially throughout 2023 with €18 billion."

"The proposal was adopted by the Council today via a written procedure and it will be submitted to the European Parliament for its possible adoption next week," the statement added.

For his part, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Murawski called on the Europeans to provide funding to the countries "hosting Ukrainian refugees," pointing out that "the European Commission did not pay the bulk of the aid to the frontline countries" after receiving the refugees last spring.

Poland refuses to link aid to Ukraine to other files, such as applying the tax system on multinationals and releasing aid to Hungary, Murawski added.

EU countries decided on Tuesday to "lower the amount of a proposed funding freeze in exchange for Budapest lifting its veto on key items, including an aid package to Ukraine," Politico reported.

Hungary had opposed, more than once, the European Union's decisions regarding Ukraine, and confirmed that it would not support the Union's efforts to help Kiev with the funds previously collected.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto confirmed earlier that his country would not support the European Union's efforts to help Ukraine with the funds raised jointly.