**EU and Ukraine Sign Agreement to Attract 35 Billion Euros**
The Ukrainian Finance Ministry and the European Union have signed a memorandum and an agreement to attract up to 35 billion euros as part of the G7 loan. This was announced on December 4 by the ministry.
The funding is crucial for Ukraine, which has been affected by Russia’s war. The final amount of the EU’s contribution will be determined after all parties approve the amount of loans.
Ukraine expects to receive revenues from frozen Russian assets in G7 countries to repay the loan. The country’s parliament recently passed a bill stating that it would not repay the G7 loan without reparations from Russia.
**US and Other Countries Contribute**
The US has promised to contribute $20 billion, while other G7 members, including the UK, Canada, and Japan, are expected to contribute as well.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that security guarantees, such as Ukraine’s NATO membership and deployment of international troops, could be necessary for long-term peace in Ukraine.
**Other News**
* Ukrainian air defenses shot down 29 Russian drones overnight.
* A Chinese man was arrested for shipping weapons to North Korea from the US.
* Ukraine plans to establish nearly 200 mental health facilities.
* The BBC’s “100 Women 2024″ list featured two Ukrainians, Olha Olefirenko and Olha Rudnieva.
**Support for Ukraine**
The Slovenian Foreign Minister reaffirmed her country’s strong support for Ukraine during the NATO foreign ministers‘ meeting in Brussels.
Culture Minister Mykola Tochytskyi said that the aggressor is destroying Ukrainian culture and monuments, but Ukraine remains unbroken.
**Meetings with US Officials**
Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak will lead a Ukrainian delegation in meetings with US officials, particularly those from Donald Trump’s entourage.