EU leaders agree on €90 billion loan to Ukraine as 'plan B' to use of Russian assets

The French government successfully survived two no-confidence votes aimed at protesting the European Union's trade agreement with the MERCOSUR bloc, which has sparked significant controversy and unrest among various stakeholders.

Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine's former Prime Minister, has been accused of bribery by anti-corruption investigators, who allege she orchestrated a scheme involving members of parliament, including those from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's party. This accusation adds to the ongoing scrutiny of political figures in Ukraine amid a backdrop of corruption investigations.

Hungary's president has announced that the next parliamentary election will take place on April 12th, marking a significant moment as the political landscape is already becoming highly competitive, particularly between Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his main opponent. The official campaign is set to begin in a month, but early polling indicates a close race.

The European Union has committed to providing Ukraine with a substantial $105 billion loan, aimed primarily at enabling the country to purchase weapons and military platforms from European manufacturers, reinforcing its defense capabilities amid ongoing conflict.

Ukraine is set to gain access to a €90 billion EU loan, enabling the purchase of military equipment from non-European suppliers, as outlined by the European Commission. This financial support is contingent on Russia paying reparations, with discussions about utilizing frozen Russian assets still ongoing.

Residents of Kyiv are facing severe hardships as Russian strikes have led to widespread power outages and frigid temperatures of -19C, exacerbating the ongoing energy crisis in Ukraine's capital. Many are struggling to keep warm amid these conditions, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation.

According to data from Copernicus, the European Union's climate monitoring service, 2025 has been recorded as the third-hottest year in modern history, highlighting ongoing global warming trends.

Since late August 2025, China has received at least 24 liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments from two sanctioned Russian facilities, Arctic LNG 2 and Portovaya, highlighting a significant increase in energy cooperation between the two nations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.