Belgium
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the swift presentation of options for a reparations loan for Ukraine. European countries also agreed to continue pressure on Russia through sanctions.
The leadership of the Netherlands and Romania believe that Lukoil will sell its plants located in the territories of these countries.
European Union leaders have postponed a decision on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. The issue was postponed until December due to Belgium's demands for risk guarantees for loans totaling 140 billion euros.
Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius proposes that EU countries use funds from the €150 billion investment plan to support Ukraine. Some countries have already expressed their readiness to apply loans from the 'Security Actions for Europe' program for Kyiv.
The team of European Council President António Costa is changing the conclusions to persuade Belgium to support a €140 billion loan to Ukraine. EU leaders are discussing new wording that addresses the red lines of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has taken an uncompromising stance on the use of frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine. This has led to a halt in plans that officials had been working on for months.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever doubts the legal basis for using Russian assets for Ukraine and demands guarantees from all EU member states. He warns of risks for Belgium and threatens to block the decision without proper risk sharing.
European leaders are considering using frozen Russian assets to provide loans to Ukraine that may not be repaid. This move is a response to the cessation of financial support from the US and Kyiv's growing needs.
Belgium will continue F-16 deliveries to Ukraine on schedule, after the first three F-35s are put into operation. This will take from a year to a year and a half, after which Belgium will be able to provide F-16s to Ukraine.
Ukraine's allies are seeking to strengthen its position ahead of Trump-Putin talks, fearing a bad deal. They are preparing a support package that includes funding, weapons, and new sanctions against Russia, and plan to involve Zelenskyy in any negotiations.
The US opposes the EU's plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, citing risks to market stability. This move is a setback for the EU, which has been trying to persuade G7 countries to join its initiative.
Two Kharkiv residents have been charged with fraud for organizing fake employment in Europe. They defrauded people of almost 700,000 hryvnias by demanding advance payment for non-existent services.
Military support for Ukraine from Western countries has significantly decreased, especially from the United States. Europe partially compensated for the deficit, but the volume of aid decreased by 57% in the summer.
The Portuguese Parliament has passed a bill banning the wearing of face-covering clothing for religious or gender reasons, including the burqa and niqab. The document provides for fines ranging from 200 to 4000 euros for violations, but the president can veto it.
Military aid to Ukraine in July and August decreased by 43% compared to the first half of the year. This is due to a change in the structure of support, with most aid now coming through the PURL program.
The Ukrainian national football team moved up to 27th place in the FIFA rankings after victories over Iceland and Azerbaijan. Spain remains the leader, Argentina is in second place.
The European Union is considering using frozen Russian state assets worth 140 billion euros to provide a loan to Ukraine. The European Commission also seeks to raise 25 billion euros from private bank accounts for this initiative.
Canada and the United Kingdom will join the EU's plan to use nearly $300 billion in Russian Central Bank assets to support Ukraine. This mechanism provides for the provision of loans for weapons and economic support without direct confiscation of funds.
The 11th meeting of the IT Coalition in Stockholm will accelerate technology procurement for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and increase funding for digital projects. Since September 2023, the coalition has raised over 1.2 billion euros for the development of technological capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
During the Wales-Belgium match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, a rat ran onto the field in the 65th minute, stopping the game. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois tried to catch it, but the rodent escaped, and was later carried off by Welsh striker Johnson.
The European Union is considering using about 200 billion euros of frozen Russian central bank assets as the only way to sustainably finance Ukraine. EU leaders aim to reach a political agreement on this at next week's summit, after which work on a legal proposal will begin.
A number of European countries increased their purchases of oil and gas from Russia in 2025, despite a general reduction in dependence on Russian energy. The total amount of Russian energy imports exceeded 213 billion euros since 2022, while aid to Ukraine from the European Union amounted to 167 billion euros.
The General Staff of the Czech Republic confirmed the appearance of unknown drones over military facilities, stating its readiness to intercept them. Information about specific objects and details of threats is classified.
In recent months, at least ten European countries have reported drone incursions into their airspace, raising concerns and leading to increased security measures. Romania, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, France, Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, and Belgium have witnessed these incidents, some of which are linked to Russia.
The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office has dismantled a terrorist group that was planning an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Bart De Wever. Investigators discovered an improvised explosive device that the suspects planned to attach to a drone.
NATO allies are discussing more decisive measures in response to Russian provocations, including the deployment of armed drones and easing restrictions for pilots on opening fire. The goal of the negotiations is to raise the cost for Moscow for its "hybrid war" and develop clear countermeasures.
Brussels fears it will have to answer for claims from the Russians, but other EU countries are reassuring Belgium.
Belgium is considering transferring additional F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. This became possible after the arrival of the first fifth-generation F-35 aircraft in the country, which will replace the older machines.
Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service reports that by 2030, Russia will lose hundreds of aircraft due to sanctions that make maintenance impossible. 109 foreign and 230 Soviet aircraft, as well as more than 200 helicopters, will be removed from the carriers' fleet.
EU ambassadors have approved the bloc's plan to end Russian oil and gas imports by 2028. This decision was made despite objections from Hungary and Slovakia.