War in Ukraine: EU aid, anti-Putin rock group, Russian start-up secretly arming kyiv… update on the situation

Charles Michel et Ursula von der Leyen à Bruxelles ce 1er février 2024. MAXPPP – OLIVIER MATTHYS

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Thursday, February 1, 2024, discover the latest news around this conflict.

EU approves €50 billion aid for Ukraine

The 27 heads of state and government of the European Union reached an agreement this Thursday on new financial aid to Ukraine, 50 billion ;#39;euros until 2027, at the end of a standoff lasting several weeks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"We have a deal. Unity", announced on X (formerly Twitter) the President of the European Council Charles Michel. "This agreement guarantees stable, predictable and long-term financing for Ukraine", he added. Last December, Viktor Orban, close to Moscow, vetoed this new aid program for Ukraine, plunged into war since the Russian invasion of February 2022.

Financial support for kyiv requires a unanimous vote. Viktor Orban, who particularly highlights the impact of the conflict on European agriculture, believes that "Ukraine is a problem" for Europe. Under pressure for weeks, he finally gave in, obtaining from the 26 an annual review of the allocated funds, as he demanded. A review clause is also planned in two years, "if necessary", we learned from two European diplomats.

On the other hand, the strong man of Hungary did not obtain the release of European funds for his country, which Brussels froze due to breaches of the rules. Rule of law. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky welcomed the agreement on Thursday, proof in his eyes of "the strong unity of the EU". "Continued financial support from the European Union will strengthen Ukraine's financial and economic stability in the long term, which is not less important than military assistance and sanctions against Russia", he said on X.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Economy specified that the first tranche of this new envelope – 4.5 billion euros – would be paid in March. In total, 39 billion euros will be allocated to the Ukrainian budget. Since the start of the Russian offensive on February 24, 2022, Kiev has received some 68 billion euros in international aid, including nearly 26 billion euros from the part of the European Union.

Russian rock band opposed to war in Ukraine deported to Israel

Members of a Russian rock band opposed to the war in Ukraine have left Thailand for Israel, a week after authorities threatened to deport them to Moscow for working on the tourist island of Phuket without a permit, the group and Thai police said.

The group is known for condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Justice Ministry has labeled Bi-2 singer Igor Bortnick a'“foreign agent"&nbsp ;after he criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin last year.

“Human rights concerns prevailed in Thailand's decision to let all members of the Bi-2 group stand return to Israel safely"said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

What is Destinus, this Russian start-up that secretly arms the soldiers of Kiev ?

For almost a year, the Russian start-up based in Switzerland "Destinus" has been secretly delivering drones to the Ukrainian army to deal with Russia.

Founded by Russian Mikhail Kokorich and opponent of Vladimir Putin, this start-up based in Switzerland has been secretly supplying several hundred drones to the Ukrainian armed forces for a year. ;She is also working on a hypersonic aircraft project powered by hydrogen.

While the European Union has just agreed on 50 billion euros in aid for Ukraine, Destinus,&nbsp ;would deliver drones in spare parts and manufactured in Germany to Kiev. The latter would assemble them in a secret base, reports Challenges.

The collaboration between Ukraine and this start-up may seem surprising when we know that its founder was born in Russia. Mikhail Kokorich left his country in 1991 when Vladimir Putin came to power. A few days ago, he announced on his X account (formerly Twitter) that he renounced his Russian citizenship.