The European Commission has offered Belgium significant guarantees regarding a €140 billion loan to Ukraine to protect it from the legal and financial consequences of using Russian assets. EU countries are ready to assume the risks of Russian retaliation, including those arising from bilateral investment treaties.
The European Union has offered Ukraine €90 billion in funding in the form of a grant or a loan backed by EU debt. This will happen if countries fail to approve the desired plan to use frozen Russian assets.
Russia's fossil fuel exports in October fell to their lowest levels since the start of the full-scale war, amounting to 524 million euros per day. This is 4% less than in September, due to Ukrainian attacks and international sanctions.
The federal government of the European country is investing 100 million euros in modern drone defense systems, including interceptors. The move is aimed at combating illegal drones appearing over German territory.
On the night of November 16, Ukraine repelled an enemy air attack, which included an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 176 attack UAVs. According to preliminary data, 139 enemy drones were destroyed in the north, south, and east of the country.
Belgian Foreign Minister Max Prevot stated that Belgium strongly condemns the massive Russian attacks on Ukraine, which are war crimes. He also expressed concern about the strike on the Azerbaijani embassy in Kyiv.
According to a European Commission study, 46 road fatalities per million inhabitants were recorded in the EU in 2023. The highest mortality rates are observed in the southeastern regions, particularly in Bulgaria, Greece, France, and Romania.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the possibility of issuing joint EU debt to support Ukraine. This will happen if the plan to use frozen Russian assets fails due to Belgium's blocking.
EU ministers discussed financing for Ukraine, supporting the idea of a reparations loan. This option is considered the most feasible for covering the deficit without additional burden on member states.
Dean Spielmann, an advisor to the EU's Supreme Court, stated that the Spanish amnesty law for participants in the Catalan separatist movement does not contradict EU law. This decision supported the government of Pedro Sánchez, which relied on the law to maintain power.
Eurostat has published data for the first half of 2025, showing a significant gap in electricity and natural gas prices between European countries. Some countries pay several times more than their neighbors.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the allocation of almost 6 billion euros to Ukraine under the ERA loan and the Ukraine Facility. The European Council also committed to covering Ukraine's financial needs over the next two years, considering three funding options, including a reparations loan based on immobilized Russian assets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged EU allies to overcome differences on using frozen Russian assets, as new funding is critical for the country's economy. The EU has postponed a decision until December on using Russian state assets to provide Ukraine with €140 billion in loans, facing objections from Belgium and Slovakia.
Norway is considering supporting the EU's plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. However, the country will not use its sovereign wealth fund as the sole financial support.
A number of European countries will receive additional support from the EU to overcome the growing migration burden. The new mechanism will become operational after the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum comes into force in mid-2026.
Belgium has sought assistance from allies after a series of drone incursions near airports, military bases, and nuclear power plants. Officials say the incidents "resemble" Russian actions, but there is no direct evidence yet.
The European Union will discuss two main ways to raise financial support for Ukraine: borrowing or using frozen Russian assets. EU finance ministers are meeting in Brussels after pledging to cover Ukraine's needs in 2026-2027.
Three drones were spotted over the Doel nuclear power plant in Belgium, which did not affect its operation. This happened after a series of similar incidents with drones over military facilities and airports in Belgium and other European countries.
This move could unlock funding for Kyiv as the EU seeks ways to secure a loan without the risk of non-repayment.
Pope Leo XIV spent almost three hours meeting with Belgian victims of sexual abuse by the clergy, listening to their testimonies of trauma. The Catholic Church in Belgium is facing a crisis due to hundreds of abuse cases, and the Pope has pledged to combat violence and cover-ups.
The European Commission proposes to permanently freeze Russian assets in the EU and use the proceeds to finance Ukraine. Rejection of this plan could lead to annual EU expenditures of 5.6 billion euros, affecting the deficit and debt of individual states.
The Belgian Ministry of Defense sent 149,000 letters to 17-year-olds, urging them to join the army.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that his country would not support the European Union's idea of using Russian assets to cover Ukraine's military expenses. Fico will not support the use of 140 billion euros from frozen Russian assets to go towards Ukraine's reconstruction or aid.
Representatives of the EU and the Belgian government have not reached an agreement on the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. Belgium demands legal guarantees and fears lawsuits, while the EU insists on a plan to use 140 billion euros.
The United States fully supports the European Union's use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. The EU proposes to use up to 185 billion euros of Russian sovereign assets frozen in Europe without confiscating them.
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EU countries could pay up to 5. 6 billion euros in interest payments annually if they do not agree on 140 billion euros for Ukraine, secured by Russian assets. The European Commission sent a document to EU capitals, highlighting the financial consequences of rejecting this plan.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius suggested that drone sightings over Belgium could be related to discussions about the use of frozen Russian assets. Belgium holds 183 billion euros in Russian assets, which constitutes the majority of all Russian state assets in the EU.
Flights at Sweden's Gothenburg Landvetter Airport were temporarily suspended due to the detection of drones in the airspace, leading to an investigation into possible sabotage. Air traffic was closed but resumed at 9:00 PM, and similar incidents have been recorded in other European countries.
Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stated that Ukraine will face an "eternal war" if Europe does not increase pressure on Russia. He called for the deployment of European troops and the establishment of a missile and drone shield on NATO territory to protect Ukraine.
