Ireland's prime minister, Leo Varadkar, asserted that the struggle for Ukraine represents a broader battle for European principles. "We pledge our support to Ukraine for as long as necessary, and we emphasize the necessity of financial backing from the European Union, the United States, and other allied nations," he remarked. Varadkar expressed confidence in the European Council's potential to endorse a new €50 billion package of grants and loans for Ukraine during its upcoming meeting on February 1. 

However, Varadkar acknowledged the potential for obstacles, particularly with Hungary impeding the progress thus far. In the event of the EU's inability to reach a consensus, Varadkar proposed that individual countries collaborate to furnish the support required by Ukraine. "I'd much prefer to see us do it on the basis of unanimity. But we have to have a plan B and a fallback option. And to me that would be the governments that are willing and able to support Ukraine and would do so on a multilateral basis" - he stated.

Varadkar highlighted that the "vast majority" of European governments support the European Council's proposed €50 billion aid package for Ukraine. Earlier in the week, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen asserted that the EU would devise a solution, if necessary, to circumvent Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's veto and secure approval for the €50 billion special fund for Ukraine.

"I think it's very important to engage with all 27 member states of the European Union to get the €50 billion for four years for Ukraine up and running," von der Leyen told journalists in Davos.