The U.K. announced on October 22 that London will provide Ukraine a loan of PS2,26 billion ($2.9 billion), backed by profits from Russian assets frozen.
The money is the U.K. contribution to the Group of Seven’s (G7) initiative to provide Kyiv a $50 billion loan before the end of the calendar year. Interest will be paid using billions of frozen Russian assets.
The U.K. loan will be allocated for Ukraine’s military expenditures. Kyiv can invest in key equipment for fighting Russia, including artillery, air defence, and wider equipment support.
The U.K. chancellor said that the new money was in Britain’s interest, because the frontline of our defense — our democracy and shared value — is in the Ukrainian trenches.
“A safe and secured Ukraine is a secure and safe United Kingdom.”
The British Defense Minister John Healey stated that the money could be used by Kyiv to develop long-range drones, capable of travelling farther than some missiles.
The aid is on top of the UK’s existing 3 billion pound ($3.9 billion) per year assistance to Ukraine.
The European countries control about two-thirds the $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets that were immobilized following the outbreak of a full-scale conflict. The EU was reluctant to confiscate assets outright but devised a scheme to use windfall profits for Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction needs.
According to the G7 plan the profits from Russia’s assets that have been frozen will be used gradually to repay the multibillion-euro loans. EU officials stated that the 35 billion euro loan would be “undesignated”, “untargeted” and allow Ukraine to spend the funds in any way it chooses.
The EU is expecting to begin distributing the money as early as next year.
This is Pyongyang’s first public response to multiple reports from Kyiv or Seoul about such a deployment.
The loan will go towards Ukraine’s military expenditures. Kyiv can invest in key equipment for fighting Russia, including artillery, air defence, and wider equipment support.
The Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces destroyed 46 of 60 Shahed drones launched overnight by Russia.
A government source told Yonhap that, “while watching signs of North Korea and Russia military cooperation, response measures will be taken step by step.”
Russian local authorities claim that Ukrainian drones attacked four Russian plants, including three distilleries, overnight on October 22, including in the oblasts of Tula, Tambov, and Voronezh.
In an interview with Wladyslaw Bartoszewsk, Polish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on October 21, Wladyslaw T. Bartoszewsk stated that Warsaw wants to review the classified additions made to Ukraine’s recent victory plan presented by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
This includes 1,350 casualties that Russian forces have suffered in the last day.
The Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported on October 21 that Russian soldiers executed two captured Ukrainians near Selydove, in Donetsk Oblast.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of Sudan (RSF) claim to have shot down an cargo plane in Darfur. It is speculated that Russians were on board.
Zelensky stated in his evening speech that “every meeting with our partners includes discussions about the Defense-Industrial Complex.” “We need Ukraine’s ability to defend its independence and sovereignty regardless of any threats from the outside world,” Zelensky said in his evening address.
Sandu stated on X that “the people of Moldova have spoken. Our EU future will be now anchored in our constitution.” “We fought fairly and won an unfair battle. The fight isn’t yet over. “We will continue to push for peace, prosperity and the freedom to create our own future.”
“Your unwavering commitment is not just an act of friendship. It’s a powerful sign of the shared values which bind our nations,” said Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s defense minister, alongside U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Local authorities reported that on October 21, Russia attacked the towns Kurakhove, Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk in the Donetsk Oblast district. Three people were killed and two others injured.
On the morning of October 21, Russia struck the residential area in the city and damaged 30 buildings.
In an interview with the BBC published on October 21, Yulia Navalnaya said, “I will participate… as a Candidate” in the elections when the time is appropriate.
Lloyd Austin, the Pentagon chief, said that ammunition, military equipment and weapons would be included.
Peter Stano, spokesperson for the European Commission, said that the referendum on Moldova joining the EU which was held alongside elections in the nation, was a result of “unprecedented” interference by Russia and its agents.
“North Korea sending soldiers to fight alongside Russia’s troops in Ukraine would be a significant escalation,” NATO secretary general Mark Rutte stated on social media after a conversation between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
In September, the largest government reshuffle since World War II took place. Herman Smetanin became the new head of the Strategic Industries Ministry.
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