For now, links to six reports: from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Cradle, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 12-17-25 and up or down for today’s WEST BANK and GAZA.) — MCM
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EU leaders agree on 90 billion-euro loan to Ukraine after a plan to use Russian assets unravels, by Lorne Cook and Angela Charlton | AP BRUSSELS — European Union leaders agreed today to provide a massive interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years, but they failed to bridge differences with Belgium that would have allowed them to use frozen Russian assets to raise the funds. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others, and HERE for second AP report, and HERE and HERE for report from AFP / AFP in English and French.
EU greenlights €90 billion loan to Ukraine after Belgium blocks theft of Russian funds. From the Cradle. EU leaders have reached a deal to lend Ukraine €90 billion over the next two years, which must only be repaid if Russia eventually pays reparations for its 2022 invasion of the country. READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine welcomes 90 billion-euro EU loan, despite lack of deal on Russian assets, by Andrew Gray and Max Hunder | Reuters BRUSSELS — Ukraine thanked the European Union on Friday for deciding to provide it with 90 billion euros ($105.46 billion) of support over the next two years – even if the bloc failed to agree on an ambitious plan to finance it using frozen Russian assets. READ MORE . . .
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Putin says at his annual news conference that Russia’s goals in Ukraine will be met, by Harriet Morris | AP MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin emphasized Friday that Moscow’s troops were advancing across the battlefield in Ukraine and voiced confidence the Kremlin would achieve its goals militarily if Kyiv doesn’t agree to Russia’s conditions in peace talks. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.
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TO BE CONTINUED