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EU transferring new $1-billion tranche for Ukraine covered by frozen Russian assets

by Martin Fornusek April 9, 2025 2:33 PM 2 min read
Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in Brussels, Belgium, on April 9, 2025. (Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal/X)
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The EU is allocating another financial assistance tranche of 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) as part of the G7 loan program for Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on April 9.

"We are grateful to our partners for supporting the economy and the rapid recovery of our country," Shmyhal said after meeting EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in Brussels.

Western nations froze around $300 billion in Russian assets after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with roughly two-thirds held in Europe.

Kyiv has been urging its foreign partners to confiscate the assets and funnel them to Ukraine's defense and reconstruction efforts, but Western leaders have been hesitant to take the step, fearing legal, political, and economic pitfalls.

Instead, the G7 members agreed to provide Kyiv with a $50 billion Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loan, which will be repaid with proceeds from the frozen assets.

The EU is providing around 18.1 billion euros ($20 billion) as part of the loan, with another $20 billion shouldered by the U.S. and the rest by the U.K., Canada, and Japan.

"We are delivering on our promise to support Ukraine," Dombrovskis said. "This (aid) provides crucial financing to Ukraine and makes Russia pay for its aggression."

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Reuters: Chinese military officers have been present behind Russian lines with Beijing’s approval.

More than 100 Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine are acting as mercenaries and do not appear to have direct ties to Beijing, according to two U.S. officials cited by Reuters. However, a former intelligence official told Reuters that Chinese military officers were present behind Russian lines, with Beijing’s approval, to observe and draw tactical lessons from the war.
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