EU members approve $38bn loan for Ukraine backed by Russian assets

The European Parliament is expected to approve the loan this month, allowing it to be paid out next year.

European Union envoys have agreed to provide Ukraine up to 35 billion euros ($38bn) as part of the bloc’s share in a larger planned loan from the Group of Seven (G7) nations, backed by frozen Russian Central Bank assets, a statement from the Council of the EU says.

Kyiv is desperate for funds as it seeks to prop up its economy, equip its military and keep its electricity grid functioning this winter after ferocious bombardments by Moscow’s forces.

The EU’s loan – which was signed off by a majority of ambassadors at a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday – is part of a bigger $50bn initiative agreed by G7 powers in June.

The EU is the first of the G7 powers to announce how much it is putting forward as its share of the plan and is still waiting for others, including the United States and Britain, to do their part.

The European Parliament is expected to approve the loan at a sitting later in October, enabling it to be paid out next year.