The President of Ukraine has concluded his visit to London, leaving Downing Street after a meeting with the Prime Minister of Great Britain. He is now heading to Brussels for talks with NATO and EU leaders.
Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the UK for meetings with E3 leaders. After that, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Starmer and participate in a phone call with the leaders of Finland, Italy, NATO, and the EU, and then head to Belgium.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the United Kingdom. He will meet with the British Prime Minister, the leaders of France and Germany, and then fly to Belgium.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with his British, French, and German counterparts in London. This will be followed by a video call with EU and NATO leaders, and then a visit to Brussels for high-level meetings.
Seven EU countries have called for the use of frozen Russian assets to finance a reparations loan to Ukraine. This decision will strengthen Ukraine's position and ensure compensation for damages caused by the aggression.
European Union leaders will discuss the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine at a summit on December 18. Belgium has a special position on this issue, and the US is trying to block EU plans to use these assets.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of financial support for Ukraine for European security. She also stated that Belgium's situation regarding frozen Russian assets must be resolved in such a way that all European states bear the same risk.
Euroclear CEO Valerie Urbain believes that frozen Russian assets should be used for peace negotiations rather than to finance a reparations loan to Ukraine. This would avoid complex legal risks and preserve leverage.
The US is trying to block EU plans to use frozen assets of the Russian central bank to support a loan to Ukraine. Washington believes that these assets are necessary to secure a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.
European leaders are warning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to succumb to Russia's demands without ironclad security commitments from the United States. They advise clearly defining America's role in security guarantees for Kyiv before agreeing to Russia's demands.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever will hold talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Belgium expresses concerns about legal aspects and potential risks for its taxpayers.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz canceled a trip to Oslo to persuade Belgium to support a €165 billion "reparation loan" to Ukraine. The loan is proposed to be secured by frozen Russian state assets located in Belgium.
Spiegel reported that the Élysée Palace, in a statement to the German publication, denied that Macron had spoken of any betrayal.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen informed the US administration about plans to develop a reparation loan system for Ukraine. This initiative involves using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine in 2026-2027, covering two-thirds of its needs amounting to 90 billion euros, with the possibility of providing 165 billion euros.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that "almost all" of Belgium's concerns regarding a "reparation loan" for Ukraine have been addressed. This concerns the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's needs.
The European Union proposes to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's financial needs, amounting to 90 billion euros, over the next two years. This will be done through EU borrowing or a reparations loan from frozen Russian assets.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry believes that using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine would not contribute to peace negotiations. Beijing opposes unilateral sanctions that violate international law.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU pays Russia 1. 5 billion euros monthly for fossil fuels. She emphasized that this amount has significantly decreased since the beginning of the war, but is still too high.
US officials intend to return Russian assets after a peace treaty is concluded. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposes using them to support Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron will make his fourth state visit to China this week. Europe is seeking to strike a balance between economic and security threats from Beijing and its dependence on the world's second-largest economy.
European governments accuse Belgium of excessive demands for protection in case the Kremlin sues over the use of 140 billion euros in frozen Russian assets. This could derail negotiations on the EU's plan to provide these assets to Ukraine before the December summit.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the preparation of new EU sanctions against Belarus. This is a response to hybrid actions against Lithuania, including an increase in the number of incursions by contraband balloons.
The European Commission is actively, though not publicly, participating in peace consultations on Ukraine, maintaining constant contact with Kyiv and the United States. Brussels ensures that the EU's interests are taken into account in the discussions and supports Ukraine's sovereignty.
The European Commission is consulting with member states on a "reparations loan," but Belgium is resisting. EU leaders must find a solution before the December 18-19 summit, as all options have weaknesses.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. This comes amid Donald Trump's optimism about a deal to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Diplomatic issues, strengthening Ukraine's resilience, and the negotiation process to end the war were discussed.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever stated that the EU's plan to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine could harm a peace agreement. Belgium has not seen the legal wording from the European Commission, which will present a proposal this week on the use of the assets.
The European Commission is urging Western allies to speed up payments on a $50 billion loan to Ukraine. This comes as Belgium is stalling EU efforts to support Ukraine with a larger financing scheme using Russian assets.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that there are no signs of a quick peace in Ukraine. He noted that Putin is using a tactical moment to increase pressure on the front and civilians, expressing skepticism about a US-led peace agreement.
According to the depository's management, this could scare investors in European government debt and lead to countermeasures from the Russian side.
