EU agrees 90-bn-euro loan for Ukraine, without Russian assets

EU agrees 90-bn-euro loan for Ukraine, without Russian assets

BRUSSELS, DEC 19: EU leaders struck a deal Friday to provide Ukraine a loan of 90 billion euros to plug its looming budget shortfalls — but failed to agree on using frozen Russian assets to come up with the funds.

The middle-of-the-night agreement reached at summit talks in Brussels offers Kyiv a desperately needed lifeline as US President Donald Trump pushes for a quick deal to end Russia’s nearly four-year war.

“Today’s decision will provide Ukraine with the necessary means to defend itself and to support the Ukrainian people,” European Council head Antonio Costa, who chaired the summit, said.