Watch live: Vladimir Putin holds annual end of year address and phone-in with Russians Watch live as Vladimir Putin holds his annual televised new conference on Friday (19 December). The Independent UK · Dec 19, 2025
EU greenlights €90bn loan for Ukraine, without frozen Russian assets European Union leaders have agreed a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, offering Kyiv a financial lifeline as it faces mounting budgetary pressure, but stopped short of the contentious step of using frozen Russian state assets. Radio France Internationale · Dec 19, 2025
Zelenskyy and Polish PM hail EU’s €90bn loan: ‘Scariest thing for Russians is when we’re together’ – as it happened Ukrainian leader welcomes move as Donald Tusk says ‘it could be better’ after Russian frozen assets left out of deal The Guardian - AU · Dec 19, 2025
The Guardian view on the EU and Ukraine: a moment of truth for Brussels and Kyiv Editorial: The plan to mobilise Russia’s frozen assets is morally compelling and ingenious. The problem is that its enemies will never see it that way The Guardian - UK · Dec 18, 2025
Ukraine does not believe Europe ‘should replace the US’ in security guarantees, Zelenskyy says Responding to a question from Euronews, the Ukrainian leader said Europe’s commitment to assist Ukraine in case of a future Russian attack cannot replace the US security guarantees for Ukraine. For Kyiv these are “different things” and how Russia is trying to “exclude” the EU from it, he explained. Euronews · Dec 18, 2025
Kremlin envoy set to visit Miami for talks on US peace plan for Ukraine A U.S. official says a Kremlin envoy will travel to Florida to discuss a U.S.-proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine The Independent UK · Dec 18, 2025
EU leaders urged to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defence Pressure is growing on member states to back a €90bn loan for Kyiv ahead of a Brussels summit The Guardian - UK · Dec 18, 2025
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kremlin dismisses new peace plan after Trump’s envoy calls talks constructive Steve Witkoff has hailed latest talks in Florida as 'productive and constructive' without announcing any major breakthroughs The Independent UK · Dec 18, 2025
What is the row about the EU using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine? Complex plan would involve EU lending €90bn to Ukraine, which some fear could destabilise Eurozone. Putin says move is akin to ‘theft’ The Guardian - UK · Dec 17, 2025
Macron demands 'robust security guarantees' before any Ukraine territorial talks Talks on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine have intensified, with France and other European powers stressing the need for robust security guarantees for Kyiv before any discussion of territorial concessions. While negotiators report progress on Western-backed assurances, deep differences remain over land occupied by Russia. Radio France Internationale · Dec 17, 2025
Reparations loan for Ukraine: Who's in favour and who's against? The European Union's bold attempt to issue a reparations loan to Ukraine using immobilised Russian assets has sharply divided the bloc's key leaders. Ahead of a crucial summit, Euronews breaks down who's in favour and who's against. Euronews · Dec 17, 2025
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky urges European leaders to show united front against Putin at Brussels summit Ukrainian president’s call comes after Putin launched bizarre rant against West amid ongoing US-brokered peace talks The Independent UK · Dec 17, 2025
Path to Ukraine peace not ‘straight line’, Starmer says after ‘productive’ talks Progress is being made on security guarantees for Kyiv, the Prime Minister told his Cabinet. Evening Standard · Dec 16, 2025
Ukraine war at ‘major moment’ but allies must keep pressure up on Putin – Healey The Defence Secretary was speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group. Evening Standard · Dec 16, 2025
Euronews · Dec 16, 2025 Russia rejects compromise on occupied Ukraine regions, Kremlin says Ukraine’s president said that following the Berlin talks, the US delegation will now proceed to discussions with Russia, but it is unclear whether Washington envoys convince Moscow to stop its war and accept the draft plan.
The Guardian - AU · Dec 16, 2025 Ukraine war briefing: US offers Nato-style security guarantees to Kyiv Trump envoys warn deal will not be on table forever but European leaders say it’s still unclear ‘whether Russia wants peace at all’. What we know on day 1,392
The Independent UK · Dec 16, 2025 Allied defence ministers to meet after US offers Kyiv security guarantees A meeting in Berlin on Monday night saw European leaders including Sir Keir Starmer set out conditions for any peace deal with Russia.
Euronews · Dec 15, 2025 Progress made on many issues, Zelenskyy says after two days of Ukraine talks in Berlin Germany's chancellor said "perhaps for the first time" since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, reaching a ceasefire appears possible after two days of talks brought "progress on many issues."
The Guardian - UK · Dec 15, 2025 Any Russia-Ukraine deal is doomed without security guarantees, says Starmer Prime minister reiterates support for Kyiv as it comes under mounting US pressure to sign up to Trump-backed plan
The Independent UK · Dec 15, 2025 Russia open to Ukraine joining EU after peace deal, US officials say American and Ukrainian negotiators have been discussing what a U.S. official called a ‘very strong security package’ for Kyiv in Berlin
The Independent UK · Dec 15, 2025 Where things stand in the talks to end Russia's war in Ukraine The U.S. diplomatic push to end nearly four years of fighting following Russia's invasion of Ukraine has bogged down over sharply conflicting territorial demands by Moscow and Kyiv
Radio France Internationale · Dec 15, 2025 Zelensky in Berlin as Ukraine weighs NATO compromise and EU funding fight Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is using talks in Berlin to rally European backing, shape US-led peace efforts and test whether Kyiv could trade its NATO ambitions for binding security guarantees. This comes as disagreements over territory, funding and Russia’s intentions continue to complicate the search for an end to the…
Euronews · Dec 15, 2025 Reparations loan under 'pressure from different sides', Kallas says as more countries voice doubts The reparations loan for Ukraine is in doubt after Italy, Bulgaria, Malta and the Czech Republic joined the Belgian opposition and called for "alternative solutions". EU leaders will gather on Thursday to decide how to meet Kyiv's financial and military needs for the next two years.
The Guardian - UK · Dec 15, 2025 ‘Law is the only weapon I have’: a Ukrainian lawyer’s campaign to rescue the children stolen by Russia Though once so despairing she thought of giving up the law for art, Kateryna Rashevska is still pushing for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by the invaders
The Independent UK · Dec 14, 2025 US hails ‘progress’ after five hours of peace talks with Zelensky in Berlin Starmer to join European allies and US envoys for talks on Russia-Ukraine peace deal