EU fails to back frozen Russian cash loan - but vows to support Ukraine

Leaders pushed back a decision on Moscow's assets until December after Belgium raised concerns.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListTo the Ends of The Earth EarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoBBC MaestroLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveEU fails to back frozen Russian cash loan - but vows to support Ukraine15 hours agoShareSaveDearbail Jordan and Chris GrahamShareSaveEPAEU leaders have agreed to help support Ukraine's "financial needs" for the next two years - but stopped short of releasing billions of euros in frozen Russian cash to help fund the country's defence on Thursday night.

A decision to use €140bn (£122bn) in Russian assets held in a Belgian clearing house was pushed back until December after concerns were raised by Belgium.

The controversial move would be on top of sanctions the bloc has imposed on Russia - the latest targeting the Kremlin's oil revenues.

The Brussels meeting came ahead of a London summit on Friday, where UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will urge European leaders to boost long-range missile supplies to Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to attend the meeting of the so-called "coalition of the willing", alongside Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Netherlands' Dick Schoof. Other leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, will join virtually.