Ukraine drones kill 3 in Russia’s Rostov as EU debates war funding for Kyiv

2 hours ago 3

Zelenskyy urges EU leaders to unlock Russian assets to amusement Moscow its tendency to proceed warfare adjacent twelvemonth is ‘pointless’.

Published On 18 Dec 2025

Ukraine has deed Russia’s confederate portion of Rostov with an overnight drone onslaught that killed 3 people, arsenic European countries strive to unlock Russian assets to assistance Kyiv and United States-led efforts to extremity the warfare person yet to output immoderate tangible results.

Yuri Slyusar, the acting determination politician of the Rostov portion said connected Telegram connected Thursday that the onslaught caused a occurrence connected a cargo vessel that had been extinguished, with 2 unit members killed and 3 near injured.

Using Russia monies to assistance Ukraine

The onslaught connected the region, the latest successful a bid of nightly Ukrainian raids heavy wrong Russian territory, came aft Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged European Union leaders gathering successful Brussels connected Thursday to o.k. plans that would merchandise 210 cardinal euros ( 247 cardinal dollars) of frozen Russian assets to assistance his country.

“The result of this gathering – the effect Europe produces – indispensable marque Russia consciousness that its tendency to proceed the warfare adjacent twelvemonth is pointless, due to the fact that Ukraine volition person support,” said Zelenskyy connected Wednesday night.

The make-or-break acme connected the plans, which would unlock the assets arsenic the ground for a indebtedness that would support Ukraine afloat implicit the adjacent 2 years, are seen arsenic a trial of Europe’s credibility arsenic US President Donald Trump, who has called the continent “weak”, pushes for a speedy woody to extremity fighting.

Without fiscal help, Ukraine will tally retired of wealth successful the 2nd 4th of adjacent twelvemonth and astir apt suffer the warfare to Russia, which the EU fears would bring the menace of Russian aggression closer.

But the program hinges connected the support of Belgium, location to the Euroclear securities depository that holds 185 billion euros of the Russian assets frozen successful Europe, which does not privation to beryllium near to ft the measure if Russian ineligible action in planetary courts succeeds.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever has argued that helium efficaciously needs a blank cheque from different governments for an indefinite play due to the fact that damages awarded to Russia could acold transcend the magnitude held by his country.

In theory, different EU countries could override Belgium and ram the inaugural done with a weighted bulk but that would beryllium a atomic enactment that fewer spot arsenic apt for now.

“These are analyzable decisions that cannot beryllium forced,” said Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, who could connection cardinal governmental screen for Belgium.

The committee has floated a imaginable fallback program of the EU raising the wealth itself to lend Ukraine. But officials accidental that strategy has been shelved arsenic it requires unanimous support from the EU’s 27 leaders and Russia-friendly Hungary has ruled it out.

Meanwhile, US efforts to forge a woody to extremity the warfare are acceptable to continue, with officials acceptable to conscionable Russian negotiators successful Miami this play to sermon Trump’s bid plan, according to a White House authoritative cited by quality bureau AFP.

Large differences stay each around. Ukraine and the United States accidental determination has been advancement connected the question of aboriginal information guarantees for Kyiv, but determination are disagreements connected what territory Ukraine would person to cede.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said connected Wednesday that Moscow would “certainly” execute its objectives successful the war, including seizing the territories it claims are its own.

Putin besides slammed the West, describing calls successful the West to hole for warfare with Russia arsenic “hysteria and a lie”.

Read Entire Article