The Oligarch’s Design: Tracing Power, Politics, Influence
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary that examines how financial power, political influence, and carefully constructed narratives c...
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced that G7 and EU partners are nearing a $50 billion loan to Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets, with the U.S. contributing $20 billion.
On Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reported that G7 and EU allies are approaching the finalization of a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, which will be secured by frozen Russian assets. The U.S. is projected to contribute roughly $20 billion to this effort.
During a news conference at the beginning of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings, Yellen expressed confidence that the Russian sovereign assets, primarily located in Europe, will stay immobilized despite the EU's need to renew the freeze every six months.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pledged to "get out" of the Russia-Ukraine war, highlighting the urgency for G7 allies to finalize the loan ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. elections.
Earlier on Tuesday, EU lawmakers approved the bloc's plan to utilize frozen Russian assets for a loan of up to 35 billion euros ($38 billion).
Yellen indicated that the U.S. is ready to contribute about $20 billion to the loan and that there are "nothing significant that still needs to be worked out."
The U.S. pushed for stronger assurances from the EU that the funds, primarily held by Euroclear in Belgium, would remain frozen for an extended period, even if a truce in Ukraine is reached. This would minimize the risk of U.S. taxpayers being responsible for repaying the loan.
Yellen stated that the U.S. is willing to accept the EU's commitment to maintaining the long-term freeze on the assets, particularly in light of the current situation of the war. "I think the assurances are already there. We asked for some mild strengthening, but feel good that this is a secure loan that will be serviced by Russian assets, by Russia and not by American taxpayers," Yellen noted.
In her prepared remarks, she mentioned that the U.S. would introduce strong new sanctions as early as next week, targeting entities that support Russia's military efforts in Ukraine, including "intermediaries in third countries that are supplying Russia with critical inputs for its military."
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Pakistan has indicated its openness to forming a regional bloc with Bangladesh without including India. The statement from Islamabad follows comments by Bangladesh’s top foreign affairs adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, that such an arrangement is strategically possible without India.
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary that examines how financial power, political influence, and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and perception.
Football superstar Lionel Messi has arrived in India to kick off his highly anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025, a three-day, four-city visit running from 13 to 15 December.
The upcoming meeting in Berlin between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European officials is set to focus on advancing a proposed peace framework, though analysts warn reaching a deal may be difficult.
Britain’s King Charles III said on Friday, 12 December, that his cancer treatment is expected to be reduced in the coming year, using a televised address to urge people across the country to take part in cancer screening programmes, officials confirmed.
Talks aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia are set to continue in Berlin this weekend, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior European leaders, a U.S. official said.
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