Video courtesy by NATO
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Tuesday a reparations loan backed by immobilized Russian assets to provide long-term military support to Ukraine, marking a significant shift in how the European Union finances assistance to Kyiv.
The loan would be dispersed in tranches with conditions attached and partly used to procure weapons from European defense manufacturers, von der Leyen said during a security meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The proposal does not involve seizing Russian assets outright, with Ukraine required to repay the loan if Russia pays reparations for its invasion.
Von der Leyen also announced a €2 billion commitment for Ukrainian drone procurement and unveiled plans for a “drone wall” along Europe’s eastern border to counter Russian unmanned aerial vehicle incursions.
She proposed a new sanctions package that would ban liquefied natural gas imports from Russia to the European Union, saying existing sanctions are working as Russia’s projected GDP growth falls from 4.3% in 2024 to 0.9% in 2025. Rutte praised NATO-EU cooperation on the initiatives, saying both organizations are working “as one team” to support Ukraine, which he described as Europe’s first line of defense against Russian aggression.
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