Merz to Ask EU to Leverage Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine Loan

Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz will press the European Union to leverage frozen Russian assets to provide 140 billion euros ($163 billion) of loans to Ukraine, he said on Thursday. “These additional funds are to be used exclusively to finance military equipment,” Merz told parliament. “Paid out in tranches, they would secure Ukraine’s military resilience for years to come.” (AFP)