"Leaders of the European Union were locked in talks deep into the early hours of December 19 in Brussels as they debate a proposal to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's economic and military needs in the coming years that Poland likened to a choice between "money today or blood tomorrow." The EU summit, which began on December 18, comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin crudely criticized the bloc's leaders, using a word that can be translated as "young swine,""
""If in the spring, Ukraine does not receive the corresponding tranche -- which, in the event of peace, will be used for the country's reconstruction, and in the event of continued war, for other priorities, above all drone production -- Ukraine's drone production will be reduced several fold," he told reporters at a press conference after addressing the summit behind closed doors."
EU leaders met in Brussels to debate a proposal to use frozen Russian state assets to finance Ukraine's economic and military needs. Poland framed the choice as urgent, saying it was "money today or blood tomorrow." Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly criticized EU leaders and insisted Moscow could achieve its war aims by force if a US-mediated peace does not meet its demands. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy favored a loan backed by frozen assets and warned that missing a spring tranche would sharply reduce drone production. Ukraine faces a $53–59 billion aid shortfall next year, while the US signals limited additional funding and frozen Russian assets total roughly 165 billion euros.
Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
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