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EU summit fails to expropriate Russian assets, but may do so in future — von der Leyen

"The member states have agreed to finance Ukraine through an EU borrowing on the capital markets for an amount of 90 billion euro for the next two years," Ursula von der Leyen said

BRUSSELS, December 19. /TASS/. Participants of the European Union summit have been unable to agree on expropriation of Russian assets, and the 90-billion-euro loan will be backed by the EU budget, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

"The member states have agreed to finance Ukraine through an EU borrowing on the capital markets for an amount of 90 billion euro for the next two years. We will do this by way of enhanced cooperation that is backed by the EU budget headroom," she said.

"Ukraine would only need to pay back the loan once it receives reparations. Until then, the immobilized Russian assets will remain immobilized, and the union reserves its right to make use of the cash balances to finance the loan," von der Leyen added.

'Political stumble' for Merz, von der Leyen, as EU fails to seize Russian assets — NYT

As The New York Times reported, the outcome made Europe "appear indecisive at a key moment"

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Maria Zakharova stressed that Russia's principled position, firmly based on the protection of national interests, respect for traditions, and a sustained readiness for pragmatic dialogue, constitutes the only correct approach

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Zelensky cannot withdraw troops from Donbass due to nationalist resistance — opposition

Viktor Medvedchuk noted that Western media outlets consistently report significant pressure from Washington on Kiev and Europe regarding this issue

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Bank of Russia lowers dollar rate to 80.03 rubles for December 19

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Bank of Russia refrains from naming foreign banks it plans to sue

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Washington's main concert complex to be renamed in honor of Trump and Kennedy

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Trump signs defense budget worth $901 billion — White House

"The Act will enable the DoW [Department of War] to carry out my Peace Through Strength agenda, protect the homeland from domestic and foreign threats, and strengthen the defense industrial base," the US leader said

Russia gradually returning to world sports — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that "this is a welcome process that can only be supported"

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The system is being developed with the capability to be operational for the next 25 years

Intelligence services remain ‘almost sole’ link between Russia, Europe — SVR

Responding to a question about whether the Russian side observes more common sense in the approaches of European countries’ intelligence services than in the activities of their politicians, Sergey Naryshkin noted that "the approaches of intelligence services generally align with the policies of their states"

Russia welcomes election of Chile's new president — diplomat

Maria Zakharova added that Russia and Chile have been linked by decades of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation

Russian defense technologies unmatched by Western military-industrial complex — expert

Alexander Stepanov noted that established industrial production would make it possible to make tens and even hundreds of items per year to provide strategic coverage for all critical areas and facilities in the Russian border regions

Russian military doing everything to celebrate Victory in peace — Kremlin

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Whole world, save for Europe, condemns US actions in Caribbean — Lavrov

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Article 123 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union prevents the ECB from printing money explicitly to finance government spending

Western military presence in Ukraine in any format unacceptable for Russia — MFA

Maria Zakharova stated that such pseudo-peacekeepers would become legitimate targets for the Russian army

Russia-UK relations head south after Putin's Munich speech in 2007 — foreign intel chief

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The European Council agrees to provide a loan to Ukraine of EUR 90 billion for the years 2026-2027 based on EU borrowing on the capital markets backed by the EU budget headroom

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EU diplomats do not rule out retaliation against Ukrainian elites by angry mob — SVR

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Russia’s Safonov makes football goalkeeping history in French PSG FIFA championship win

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Russia says shoots down three bogeys over sea in Sevastopol

Earlier, an air alert was announced in the city

West can simply steal countries’ gold and foreign exchange reserves — Lukashenko

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Special EU decision now needed to unblock frozen Russian assets — von der Leyen

The qualified majority implies that 16 out of the 27 EU member countries, home to over 55% population of the European Union, need to support the move

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Russian intel chief reveals recent extended call with MI6 director

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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico repeatedly said that he would refuse to vote for any support for Ukraine's military needs at the summit

US Treasury removes six entities, two individuals from anti-Russian sanctions

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IN BRIEF: Resuming nuclear tests, NATO threat: what Russia's military chief of staff said

The North Atlantic Alliance, under the pretext of a so-called Russian military threat, has "significantly increased" its military presence near Russia’s borders

NATO plans confrontation with Russia by 2030 — top defense official

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First NPP in Belarus significantly strengthened country’s energy security — Lukashenko

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EU leaders discuss ‘uncapped financial guarantees’ to Belgium — Euractiv

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Inevitable Ukrainian surrender to make peace talk much easier — SVR

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Russia does not deny anyone right to security, but insists on NATO not expanding — Putin

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Russia hopes Serbia stands by national interests, not West's lies — SVR chief

"We will not interfere and will respect whatever choice they make," Sergey Naryshkin added

US actions in Venezuela display Washington's neocolonial approach — Russia’s UN envoy

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EU summit fails to expropriate Russian assets, but may do so in future — von der Leyen

"The member states have agreed to finance Ukraine through an EU borrowing on the capital markets for an amount of 90 billion euro for the next two years," Ursula von der Leyen said

Ukraine’s unused gas in 2013 may cause fines of almost ten billion dollars

Ukraine’s incomplete receipt of gas in 2013 may cause fines of almost ten billion dollars

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EU fixated on idea of stealing Russia's money to continue war in Ukraine — Kremlin

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Russia to boost fertilizer output by 3% to 65 mln tons in 2025

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