The EU froze indefinitely €210 billion of Russian sovereign assets held in the bloc on Friday as Kyiv and its European allies sought to strengthen their hand at a critical phase in US-orchestrated peace talks. The freezing paves the way for a loan to be raised against the assets to prop up Ukraine’s defence. EU leaders still have to overcome strong objections from Belgium, where the assets are mostly held, at a summit next week. The Trump administration has ratcheted up the pressure on Kyiv to sign a peace deal with Russia by Christmas on largely unfavourable terms first drawn up between Washington and Moscow. The Ukrainian army was pushing Russian forces back, Mr Zelenskiy said, claiming its resistance there would strengthen Ukraine’s hand in talks.
