



Ukraine's Zelensky warns of dire battlefield if Europe doesn’t tap Russian assets
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. BRUSSELS—Ukraine will be both forced to slash drone production and undermined in negotiations with Washington if European Union leaders fail to back a $105 billion loan to keep Kyiv fighting against Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The EU says Ukraine will run out of cash in the spring.
Ukraine’s troops face intense pressure from Russian forces on the battlefield, and Zelensky is locked in difficult negotiations with Washington on ending the war. Zelensky told a press conference that Ukraine would have to “significantly decrease" its drone production in spring and warned that its long-range strike capability against Russia “would disappear." He spoke as EU leaders nearby debated the loan. The loan proposal has faced strong opposition from Belgium, which faces most of the risk.
That is because it is home to Euroclear, the institution holding around $213 billion in Russian assets when they were frozen. Belgium fears it will be left to pick up the tab if Russia successfully challenges the reparations loan in court. Prime Minister Bart de Wever has said several times that Russia has made threats of retaliation against the country and against him personally if he approves the move.
Zelensky met with de Wever on Thursday to prod him to support the loan. Cutting drone production could cripple Ukrainian forces, which have used them to hold off Russian advances as Kyiv struggles to raise manpower. Ukraine has also been able to launch frequent strikes against Russian energy facilities and other locations supporting its war effort.
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