EU Plans $165B Russian Asset Loan for Ukraine Amid Moscow Retaliation Threats

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has highlighted Russian President Vladimir Putin's persistent aggression, including attacks on Ukraine and interference across Europe, emphasizing the need to strengthen Ukraine and NATO in response. The United States, under President Trump, approved supplying Ukraine with intelligence to target Russian energy infrastructure, signaling a significant policy shift that risks provoking a major reaction from Moscow. Simultaneously, the European Union is considering a "reparation loan" plan to support Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, a move EU officials argue is not confiscation but has been labeled as theft by Russia, which threatens retaliatory actions including legal and economic measures. The EU proposal aims to provide long-term financial support to Kyiv amid declining US military financing and fiscal challenges within EU governments. Russia's Foreign Ministry condemns any use of its frozen assets without consent as a violation of international law and warns of reciprocal responses, while the Kremlin equates the EU's planned use of these assets to theft. The situation underscores escalating tensions as Western nations seek ways to sustain Ukraine's defense and hold Russia accountable, while Moscow threatens countermeasures against these financial actions.