As Europe grapples with how to best support Ukraine in its ongoing battle against Russian aggression, key meetings in Brussels and Berlin are testing the continent's resolve.
The latest discussions focus on how to fund Ukraine's recovery and military needs while establishing terms for a potential peace agreement.
In Brussels, European Union foreign ministers met on Monday to review financial and military assistance for Kyiv over the next two years.
Among the proposals under consideration is the use of frozen Russian assets as collateral for a reparations loan.
However, this idea has sparked significant opposition from several EU member states, including Italy, Bulgaria, Malta, and Belgium, who have expressed concerns about the legal risks and the possibility of Russian retaliation.
EU Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas, has warned that reaching a deal on these financial arrangements is becoming increasingly difficult.
The bloc is considering a line of credit for Ukraine using €185 billion immobilised at Euroclear in Brussels, as well as an additional €25 billion held in banks across five member states.
Despite the challenges, EU leaders are set to discuss the matter further at the upcoming European Council summit on Thursday (18 December).
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has raised concerns that the EU's failure to back the asset plan could severely damage the Union’s position in the long run.
Merz has emphasised that securing an agreement on this funding mechanism is crucial to maintaining European solidarity.
Germany has unveiled a new 10-point plan aimed at further bolstering Ukraine's defence capabilities.
The plan focuses on increasing market integration, facilitating joint ventures, and potentially providing federal investment guarantees to strengthen the country's military infrastructure.
These efforts are part of broader European efforts to enhance Ukraine’s resilience against Russian aggression.
U.S. and Ukrainian leaders meet in Berlin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with a U.S. delegation at the weekend, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Berlin, to discuss ways forward in Ukraine's defence and the broader peace process.
While an American official indicated significant progress in the discussions, Zelenskyy acknowledged that the talks were challenging, particularly on the issue of territorial disputes. However, the Ukrainian president expressed optimism that the United States would play a key role in finding a resolution.
Zelenskyy also spoke about the importance of securing strong guarantees for any potential ceasefire. He emphasised that both the U.S. and Europe must provide legal and material assurances for the peace process to succeed.
Unified European approach to peace and security
Talks continued over dinner with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Chief Mark Rutte, and other European leaders, with the focus still on aligning Europe's diplomatic, security, and financial strategies.
Zelenskyy’s meetings with European leaders reflect the urgency of forging a unified European approach to peace and security in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy’s visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday (16 December) follows these high-level meetings, where he is expected to engage with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.
The current discussions come at a critical juncture as the EU works to balance its financial support for Ukraine with a diplomatic strategy aimed at achieving peace.
Kyrgyzstan recorded the largest increase in women’s representation in parliament worldwide in 2025, accordin...
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washin...
Türkiye’s official anti-disinformation agency has issued a statement refuting what it described as onli...
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong m...
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new lead...
Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight on Saturday (7 March), damaging infrastructure and killing at least 10 people, including two children, in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second largest city in the early hours of Saturday (7 March) killed 10 people, including two children. Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekov, said 10 residents died after a Russian ballistic missile hit a five storey apartment block in the city.
Ukraine has accused Hungary of taking seven employees of a state-owned bank hostage in Budapest.
How do political narratives travel from Moscow to Westminster?
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
Norwegian police are searching for a suspect after an explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo on 8 March caused minor damage but no injuries, in what authorities say may have been a deliberate attack linked to the Middle East crisis.
An explosion damaged a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège early on Monday (9 March) in what authorities said was an antisemitic attack that caused damage but no injuries.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers will meet on Monday to discuss a global rise in oil prices and a joint release of oil from emergency reserves coordinated by the International Energy Agency, the Financial Times reports.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 9th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment