Fri Dec 19 04:46:47 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

EU leaders reached a deal on December 19, 2025, to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan over two years to address its budget shortfalls. This agreement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a swift resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. While the EU initially considered using frozen Russian assets to fund the loan, concerns over liability sharing, particularly from Belgium, led to the loan being backed by the EU’s common budget instead. Some EU members received exemptions from the commitment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had advocated for the use of Russian assets, but welcomed the funding. The situation unfolds against the backdrop of U.S.-led negotiations to end the war, with some European leaders calling for a more active European role in the peace process. Zelenskyy is seeking stronger security guarantees from the U.S. in the event of further Russian aggression, while Trump urges Ukraine to quickly agree to a peace deal.

News Article:

EU Agrees to €90 Billion Loan for Ukraine Amidst US Peace Push

Brussels – December 19, 2025 – European Union leaders reached a hard-fought agreement early Friday morning to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan over the next two years, offering a critical lifeline to the war-torn nation’s struggling economy. The decision comes as the United States, under President Donald Trump, intensifies efforts to broker a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.

The loan, backed by the EU’s common budget, aims to address Ukraine’s looming budget shortfalls. An earlier proposal to utilize approximately €200 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets to finance the loan was ultimately abandoned due to disagreements over liability sharing, particularly from Belgium, where the majority of those assets are held. Hungary, Slovakia, and Czech Republic received exemptions from the commitment.

European Council President Antonio Costa hailed the agreement, stating it would provide Ukraine with “the necessary means to defend itself and to support the Ukrainian people.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, despite supporting the asset plan, affirmed that the decision sent a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while initially advocating for the use of Russian assets, welcomed the EU’s commitment, stressing the urgency of securing financial support to stabilize his country and strengthen its position in any future peace negotiations.

The EU estimates that Ukraine requires an additional €135 billion to remain economically viable over the next two years.

Meanwhile, the agreement comes amid growing calls for Europe to take a more proactive role in negotiations with Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for Europe to “re-engage this discussion,” suggesting a more direct dialogue with Moscow.

Zelenskyy also announced new talks with U.S. delegations this weekend, seeking more concrete guarantees from Washington regarding protection against future Russian aggression. He directly questioned the level of support if further incursions occur.

President Trump, however, continues to urge Ukraine to expedite a peace deal, maintaining pressure on Kyiv to find a resolution to the conflict.

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