BRUSSELS: The EU&#39;s trade chief said Tuesday his US counterparts had told him Washington stands by a key trade deal with the bloc, following an adverse Supreme Court decision on President Donald Trump&#39;s tariffs.&nbsp;After the Supreme Court ruled last week that Trump lacks authority to impose levies under a 1977 law, the US leader responded with fresh tariffs of 10% on imported goods -- which Trump has vowed to hike further to 15%.&nbsp;That raised complex questions about what the new duties mean for the EU deal clinched last year with Trump, which imposed 15% tariffs on most EU goods.&nbsp;&quot;I have been in constant touch with my counterparts, and they both reassured me they stand by the deal with the European Union,&quot; Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told EU lawmakers.&nbsp;The top trade negotiator also touched on another sensitive topic in transatlantic ties: Trump&#39;s 50% duties on steel and aluminium imports, which the EU has been pushing to bring down.&nbsp;The president expanded levies on the metals in August to include several hundred products that contain steel or aluminium.&nbsp;Sefcovic said he discussed how to address the issue with his US counterparts.&nbsp;&quot;I hope we can find solutions in this matter very soon,&quot; he told the European Parliament&#39;s trade committee.&nbsp;The bloc&#39;s parliament put the EU-US deal on ice Monday as it sought more clarity on the fallout from the Supreme Court ruling, only a day before the committee was due to give its green light.&nbsp;Sefcovic said he understood the body&#39;s decision, but added: &quot;It is imperative we keep the process moving forward in implementing our commitments.&quot;&nbsp;EU member states&#39; representatives in Brussels heard from the EU executive on Monday, and a European diplomat said everyone agreed &quot;a deal is a deal&quot;.&nbsp;The EU executive told senior diplomats that if imports face a blanket 10% levy, pre-existing duties could mean some products are taxed at a higher rate than the trade deal&#39;s 15%.&nbsp;Another concern is that Trump&#39;s new flat levy could apply indifferently to the EU and to countries that made fewer trade concessions to Washington -- and were therefore previously taxed at a much higher rate.&nbsp;&quot;The EU now loses a comparative advantage vis-a-vis other countries, which was what made the deal palatable in the first place,&quot; the diplomat told AFP.

Europe

Americas

The EU says US officials reaffirm commitment to last year’s trade deal despite a Supreme Court ruling limiting tariff powers.

US told EU it 'stands' by tariff deal: trade chief

BRUSSELS: Google must provide rival AI services equal access to its features and other search engine platforms access to data, the EU said on Tuesday, as it said it would help the giant over six months to comply with rules.&nbsp;The EU executive said it would launch proceedings to help <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/eu-launches-antitrust-probe-into-googles-data-use-for-ai" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google</a> prepare measures in line with its flagship rulebook, the Digital Markets Act (DMA).&nbsp;Under the DMA, the world&#39;s biggest tech companies must open up to competition to give consumers more options and limit abuses linked to market dominance.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump&#39;s government has railed against the law and its sister content moderation law the Digital Services Act, accusing Brussels of unfairly targeting US firms.&nbsp;The European Commission wants to ensure Google gives rival AI service providers equal access to its Android operating system, and demands the American titan grants competing search engines access to search data.&nbsp;Brussels believes the move will allow rivals &quot;to optimise their services and offer users genuine alternatives to Google Search&quot;.&nbsp;The EU step is not a formal investigation that could lead to fines.&nbsp;But if Brussels is not satisfied with Google&#39;s efforts, it can later conclude the company is not complying.&nbsp;And any DMA violations can lead to fines of up to 10 percent of a company&#39;s total global turnover.&nbsp;&quot;We want to help Google by explaining in more detail how it should comply with its interoperability and online search data sharing obligations under the Digital Markets Act,&quot; EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said in a statement.&nbsp;Google pushed back, insisting Android is open by design.&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;re already licensing search data to competitors under the DMA,&quot; Google&#39;s senior competition counsel Clare Kelly said in a statement.&nbsp;&quot;However, we are concerned that further rules which are often driven by competitor grievances rather than the interest of consumers, will compromise user privacy, security, and innovation.&quot;&nbsp;The commission said it would conclude the proceedings within six months.&nbsp;Google already faces a fine under the DMA for favouring its own services in a probe launched in March 2024.&nbsp;The giant has also been subject to a separate DMA probe since November over suspicions it pushed down news outlets in search results.&nbsp;The scrutiny does not end with the DMA. Google also faces cases under the bloc&#39;s competition rules.&nbsp;In December, the EU said it had opened a probe to assess whether Google breached antitrust rules by using content put online by media and other publishers to train and provide AI services without appropriate compensation.&nbsp;That came after the EU slapped Google with a 2.95-billion-euro ($3.5 billion) fine in September for breaking competition rules.

Artificial Intelligence

The EU told Google to give rival AI and search engines equal access under the Digital Markets Act, launching a six-month compliance process. Non-compliance could trigger major fines, as Google already faces multiple EU probes.

EU to show Google how to open up to rival AI services

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday criticized the European Union&rsquo;s new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India, accusing European governments of undermining their own security interests by continuing to buy refined petroleum products derived from Russian oil. Speaking in recent media interviews, Bessent argued that the deal exposes what he described as a contradiction in Europe&rsquo;s stance on the war in Ukraine, while placing the United States at an economic disadvantage. &lsquo;Financing the war against themselves&rsquo;&nbsp;In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Bessent defended the Trump administration&#39;s decision to impose heavy tariffs on Indian imports, attributing them directly to New Delhi&#39;s continued purchases of Russian oil. During the segment, Bessent underlined that the US has &quot;sacrificed&quot; more than its allies to press Russia, specifically by imposing trade sanctions on India.&nbsp; &ldquo;We have put 25 per cent tariffs on India for buying Russian oil,&rdquo; Bessent said.&nbsp; &ldquo;Guess what happened last week? The Europeans signed a trade deal with India. Russian oil goes into India, the refined products come out, and Europeans buy them. They are financing the war against themselves.&rdquo; The treasury secretary highlighted the dramatic shift in India&#39;s energy imports since February 2022. Russian crude, which accounted for just 2-3% of India&#39;s oil imports before the war, surged to 18-19% afterward, allowing Indian refiners to profit from heavily discounted Russian barrels while exporting refined fuels to European markets. Bessent explicitly used the comparison to illustrate what he called the &quot;laundering&quot; of Russian oil. &lsquo;Virtue signaling&rsquo;Speaking separately at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Bessent accused European allies of &ldquo;virtue signalling&rdquo; on Ukraine while avoiding tougher trade measures that could disrupt their commercial ties with India. He characterized this as selective enforcement of sanctions. &quot;Our European allies refused to impose tariffs because they wanted to protect this big trade deal with India,&quot; he told Politico, implying that the outcome led Washington to increase sanctions, while Europe continued to benefit from global energy trade imbalances. The Trump administration has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods, with a 25% levy explicitly targeting Russian oil shipments. However, Bessent hinted that relief could be on the way.&nbsp; &ldquo;There is a path to remove them [25% tariffs],&rdquo; he said, signaling room for negotiation if India shifts its energy sourcing away from Moscow, adding that Indian purchases of Russian oil have &quot;collapsed&quot; due to US pressure.&nbsp; Deal runs counter to US interestsUS officials, including US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and Bessent, say several provisions of the India-EU agreement run counter to American economic and strategic interests.&nbsp; The agreement is expected to grant Indian textiles, chemicals, leather goods, and other labor-intensive products preferential access to European markets, directly competing with US exporters who face average EU tariffs of around 10% in these sectors.&nbsp; The Alliance for American Manufacturing, a non-profit group, expressed concerns that although EU tariffs are already low, eased regulatory and compliance requirements could give Indian drugmakers an advantage over US pharmaceutical companies in Europe. More broadly, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen&rsquo;s comments portraying the deal as part of supply-chain diversification have sparked worries in Washington. Bessant has pointed out that closer EU-India relations could reduce Europe&rsquo;s economic reliance not just on China but also on the United States. Bessent&rsquo;s comments came days before an India-EU summit at which New Delhi and Brussels announced they had concluded negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement after nearly two decades of talks. President Ursula von der Leyen described the pact as creating a combined market of around two billion people, accounting for roughly a quarter of global GDP.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 20, 2026. (AFP)

Asia

Washington sees the deal as strengthening EU-India ties at US expense, complicating sanctions on Russia, undercutting American exporters, and reducing European dependence on US markets and energy supplies.

US treasury chief slams EU-India trade deal as ‘self-defeating’ on Russia sanctions

BRUSSELS: WhatsApp is set to face greater EU scrutiny after the European Commission on Monday added the platform to its list of digital firms big enough to face <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/russia-threatens-total-ban-on-whatsapp" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">stricter</a> content rules.&nbsp;The Meta-owned service joined Facebook, TikTok, X and others in a list of 26 &quot;very large online platforms&quot; after its &quot;channels&quot; feature passed 45 million monthly active users in the European Union.&nbsp;The channels feature will face tougher obligations under the bloc&#39;s Digital Services Act (DSA) because it is considered a broadcasting feature distinct from its core messaging service.&nbsp;&quot;These obligations include duly assessing and mitigating any systemic risks, such as violations of fundamental human rights and freedom of expression, electoral manipulation, the dissemination of illegal content and privacy concerns,&quot; said a commission statement.&nbsp;WhatsApp will have until late May to comply with the &nbsp;content law, which has been labelled as &quot;censorship&quot; and discriminatory by US President Donald Trump&#39;s government.&nbsp;The platform said in its latest DSA transparency report published last year that its channels had around 51.7 million monthly active users in the 27-nation EU.&nbsp;WhatsApp is already in the EU&#39;s crosshairs over its AI features, with an antitrust probe opened in December to determine if the way Meta is rolling out the tool breaches the bloc&#39;s competition rules.&nbsp;US angerThe EU has stepped up regulatory enforcement against the world&#39;s biggest digital platforms, including many American platforms, despite strong US pushback and threats of retaliation.&nbsp;Last month, it imposed its first-ever DSA fine, hitting Elon Musk&#39;s X with a 120-million-euro ($140-million) penalty for violating transparency rules -- and on Monday it opened a new probe into the generation of sexualised deepfake images by X&#39;s AI tool Grok.&nbsp;Meta&#39;s other platforms already face the risk of heavy fines under DSA.&nbsp;In October 2025, the EU accused Facebook and Instagram of failing to grant researchers sufficient access to public data and not providing user-friendly ways to flag illegal content or challenge content-moderation decisions.&nbsp;Brussels is also investigating Facebook and Instagram over fears they are not doing enough to combat the addictive nature of the platforms for children.&nbsp;And under the DSA&#39;s sister competition law known as the Digital Markets Act, Brussels slapped a 200-million-euro fine on Meta, which has appealed.

WhatsApp has been added to the EU’s list of “very large online platforms,” joining Facebook, TikTok, and X, and will face stricter Digital Services Act rules, applying only to its broadcasting feature, not core messaging.

EU says WhatsApp to face stricter content rules

DAVOS:&nbsp;European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed on Tuesday an &quot;unflinching&quot; response to Donald Trump&#39;s threats over Greenland, as the US president said he was ready to hold a meeting in Davos about the Arctic island. In a speech to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort, von der Leyen warned that Trump risked plunging US ties with the European Union into a &quot;downward spiral&quot; over the autonomous Danish territory. Trump, who will address the annual gathering of global elites on Wednesday, has put the transatlantic alliance to the test with his demand to take over Greenland. Europe is weighing countermeasures after the US president threatened to impose tariffs on eight European countries over the Greenland standoff -- although Washington has said any retaliatory levies would be &quot;unwise&quot;. &quot;The proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies,&quot; von der Leyen told the meeting of world business and political leaders. &quot;Plunging us into a downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape. So our response will be unflinching, united and proportional,&quot; she said. Trump pressed on with his Greenland campaign on his Truth Social platform, posting a fake photo of himself planting a flag in a rock and ice landscape next to a sign reading &quot;GREENLAND - US TERRITORY EST. 2026&quot;. He later wrote he had a &quot;very good&quot; call with NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte over mineral-rich Greenland. &quot;I agreed to a meeting of the various parties in Davos, Switzerland,&quot; he said late on Monday. The US president said he did not think European leaders would &quot;push back too much&quot; on his attempt to buy the vast island, telling reporters on Monday: &quot;They can&#39;t protect it.&quot; Trump has used the argument that he wants to protect Greenland from perceived Russian and Chinese threats as a key justification for taking over the strategically located territory, although analysts suggest Beijing is a small player in the region. EU leaders will hold an emergency summit on Greenland in Brussels on Thursday. Trump vs Macron&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron will also address the forum on Tuesday, with his relations with Trump having hit a new low. The US leader threatened 200 percent tariffs on French wine and champagne over France&#39;s intention to decline an invitation to join his &quot;Board of Peace&quot;. Analysts have likened the board aimed at resolving international conflicts -- which has a $1 billion fee for a permanent spot -- to a pay-to-play version of the UN Security Council. Trump confirmed Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of various world leaders invited to join, and told reporters of Macron that &quot;nobody wants him&quot; as he will &quot;be out of office very soon&quot;. While Macron will leave on Tuesday without seeing Trump in Davos, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would seek to meet the US president at the forum on Wednesday. Macron has instead sent a message to Trump to propose a G7 summit in Paris on Thursday on Greenland, as well as ways to end Russia&#39;s war with Ukraine, with &nbsp;Copenhagen, Moscow and Kyiv attending on the sidelines. The Kremlin said Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev plans to meet members of the US delegation in Davos -- the first to head to the mountain resort since Russians were excluded from the gathering following Moscow&#39;s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The United States has sent an unusually large delegation to Davos, in a sign that it wants to make its presence felt at the summit for global economic and political leaders. China slams &#39;law of the jungle&#39;&nbsp;Other prominent foreign leaders addressing the WEF on Tuesday included Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, whose country has been locked in a trade war with Trump. &quot;A select few countries should not have privileges based on self-interest, and the world cannot revert to the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak,&quot; He said, without naming any country. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has sought to reduce his country&#39;s reliance on the United States in its own tariffs feud with Trump, will also speak in Davos later Tuesday. As US ties fray, Carney turned the page on years of diplomatic tensions with China during a visit to Beijing last week, securing a preliminary trade agreement to reduce tariffs. Other flashpoints on the WEF agenda include the crises in Venezuela, Gaza, Ukraine and Iran. UN chief Antonio Guterres, a Davos regular, cancelled his participation after coming down with a &quot;bad cold&quot;, his office said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 20, 2026.(Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)

Speaking at Davos, Ursula von der Leyen warned US tariff threats risk damaging transatlantic ties, as Europe weighs countermeasures and prepares an emergency summit, while Trump pushes meetings on the Arctic territory.

EU vows 'unflinching' response to Trump's Greenland gambit

ISLAMABAD: The European Union&nbsp;and&nbsp;China have&nbsp;called for calm and restraint in Venezuela following the aftermath of the US intervention in the country.&nbsp;The statement, issued by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, is supported by 26 EU member states, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.&nbsp;Kallas shared the statement on her social media account, X, on Monday.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 777px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2007902058876448897&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=e7b973618ac13baeaa9694f9063a7a18ae1fa8fe&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> In the statement, the EU emphasized that all actors must avoid escalation and work toward a peaceful resolution to the crisis. It reiterated the importance of upholding international law and the UN Charter, noting that members of the United Nations Security Council bear a particular responsibility in maintaining the international security framework. Blatant use of forceChina condemned the &ldquo;blatant use of force against Venezuela&rdquo;, which&nbsp;&ldquo;violates international law and basic norms in international relations&rdquo;, said the China Foreign Office Spokesperson in a statement on X. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 775px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2008131825722601581&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard&sessionId=f576ada351bffaf2abd0c5d850ae9b1d9fee840d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;It said that the move &ldquo;infringes upon Venezuela&rsquo;s sovereignty and threatens peace and security&rdquo; in Latin America and the Caribbean region.&nbsp;&ldquo;China calls on parties to respect Venezuela&rsquo;s right to independently choosing development path, and work for stability and the return of order in Venezuela&rdquo;, said the statement.&nbsp;The statement added that it supports the UN Security Council &ldquo;in holding an emergency meeting to discuss the U.S. military strikes on Venezuela&rdquo; and supports the &ldquo;Council in playing its due role according to its mandate.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;China is ready to work with the international community to firmly defend the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international justice&rdquo;, concluded the statement.&nbsp;Venezuelan-led transition to democracyThe EU has consistently stated that Venezuelan President Nicol&aacute;s Maduro lacks the legitimacy of a democratically elected leader and has advocated for a Venezuelan-led transition to democracy that respects the country&rsquo;s sovereignty. The statement stressed that the Venezuelan people&rsquo;s right to determine their own future must be respected. The EU also highlighted the importance of combating transnational organized crime and drug trafficking while stressing that such challenges must be addressed in full respect of international law, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. Unconditional release of political prisoners&nbsp;Kallas&rsquo; statement noted that the EU is in close contact with the United States, as well as regional and international partners, to support dialogue with all parties, aiming for a negotiated, democratic, inclusive, and peaceful solution led by Venezuelans themselves. The statement underlined that respecting the will of the Venezuelan people is essential for restoring democracy and resolving the ongoing crisis. It also called for the unconditional release of all political prisoners currently detained in Venezuela and confirmed that EU Member States&rsquo; consular authorities are coordinating efforts to protect the safety of EU citizens, including those detained illegally in the country.

China, EU reiterate the importance of upholding international law and the UN Charter, noting that members of the United Nations Security Council bear a particular responsibility in maintaining the international security framework

China, EU call for calm in Venezuela following US intervention

MOSCOW: Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on Saturday he was heading to Miami, where another round of talks to settle the Ukraine war was set to take place. Ukrainian and European teams were also in the sunny American city for the negotiations mediated by Donald Trump&#39;s envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president&#39;s son-in-law Jared Kushner. &lsquo;On the way to Miami&rsquo;&ldquo;On the way to Miami,&rdquo; Dmitriev wrote in an X post, adding a pigeon emoji and attaching a short video of a morning sun shining through the clouds on a beach with palms. &ldquo;As warmongers keep working overtime to undermine the US peace plan for Ukraine, I remembered this video from my previous visit -- light breaking through the storm clouds,&rdquo; he added.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2002247452825440352&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=1de18ebc49bf61c3bd3b6890b602e575d3f1e94b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 875px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Russian and European involvement in the talks marks a step forward from an earlier stage, when the Americans held separate negotiations with each side in different locations. However, it is unlikely Dmitriev would hold direct talks with Ukrainian and European negotiators as relations between the two sides remain extremely strained. &lsquo;Pro-war&rsquo; leaders&nbsp;Moscow, which sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, argues that Europe&rsquo;s involvement in the talks would only hinder the process and tends to paint the continent&rsquo;s leaders as pro-war. The weekend talks come after President Vladimir Putin vowed to press ahead with his military offensive in Ukraine, hailing Moscow&rsquo;s battlefield gains nearly four years into his war in an annual news conference on Friday. Trump&rsquo;s envoys have pressed a plan in which the United States would offer security guarantees to Ukraine, but Kyiv will likely be expected to surrender some territory, a prospect resented by many Ukrainians.

Trump’s envoys have pressed a plan in which the United States would offer security guarantees to Ukraine, but Kyiv will likely be expected to surrender some territory, a prospect resented by many Ukrainians.

Russian envoy to join Ukraine talks in Miami

BRUSSELS: EU leaders gather in Brussels Thursday for a make-or-break summit on using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine -- with key player Belgium under pressure to drop its opposition. The 27-nation bloc is scrambling to strengthen Kyiv&#39;s hand as Russia&rsquo;s war drags towards the four-year mark and US President Donald Trump pushes for a quick deal to end the fighting. Officials have insisted the talks will last as long as it takes to hammer out an agreement, saying both Ukraine&#39;s survival and Europe&#39;s credibility are at stake. &ldquo;If we do not succeed in this, then the European Union&#39;s ability to act will be severely damaged for years,&rdquo; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned this week. &ldquo;We will show the world that we are incapable of standing together and acting at such a crucial moment in our history.&rdquo; Extra 135 billion eurosThe EU estimates that Ukraine, whose president, Volodymyr Zelensky, will join the meeting, needs an extra 135 billion euros ($159 billion) to stay afloat over the next two years, with the cash crunch set to start in April. In a bid to plug the yawning gap, the European Commission, the EU&#39;s executive, has put forward a plan to tap some 210 billion euros of Russian central bank assets frozen in the bloc. The scheme &mdash; which would initially provide Kyiv with 90 billion euros over two years &mdash; involves an untested financial switcheroo in which the funds are lent to the EU, which then loans them to Ukraine. Kyiv would then only pay back the &ldquo;reparations loan&rdquo; once the Kremlin coughs up for all the damage it has wrought. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Belgium blocking&nbsp;</h2>Belgium, where the international deposit organization Euroclear holds the vast bulk of the funds, has been firmly opposed, citing fears it could face crippling financial and legal reprisals from Moscow. Russia has already fired a shot across the bows by announcing it was suing Euroclear. Belgium&rsquo;s outspoken prime minister Bart De Wever will be in the spotlight as his EU counterparts -- most of whom back the plan -- try to cajole him to accept. EU officials say they have gone out of their way to allay Belgian concerns and that multiple layers of protection, including guarantees from other member states, mean the risks are minimal. But so far Flemish nationalist De Wever has only dug in further, insisting that any guarantees must be unlimited and assets frozen in other countries should be used too. In theory, other EU countries could override Belgium and ram the initiative through with a weighted majority, but that would be a nuclear option that few see as likely for now. &ldquo;These are complex decisions that cannot be forced,&rdquo; said Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, who could offer key political cover for Belgium. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Plan B? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</h2>The commission has floated a potential fallback plan of the EU raising the money itself to lend to Ukraine. But officials say that scheme has been shelved as it requires unanimous approval from the EU&rsquo;s 27 leaders, and Hungary has ruled it out. De Wever nonetheless looks set to try to revive that idea, and other countries may be open to his arguments. &ldquo;It is on the shelf, not in the bin,&rdquo; said one EU diplomat, speaking like others on condition of anonymity. &ldquo;But we are focused now on the reparations loan.&rdquo; Bubbling close to the surface of the EU&rsquo;s discussion are the US efforts to forge a deal to end the war. Ukraine has said Washington was &ldquo;pressuring&rdquo; the EU not to use the assets, as they view them as a vital bargaining chip in winning over Russia. But EU officials deny that and say that, if anything, the push for peace has spurred the efforts to tap the Russian funds. Given that Ukraine has only months before the shortfalls bite, diplomats and officials insist leaders will find a way to keep funds flowing -- even if this week yields only a loose deal with details to be hammered out later. &ldquo;We need to find a solution,&rdquo; said a second EU diplomat. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d be surprised if they break up on Saturday or Sunday without a decision.&rdquo;

The 27-nation bloc is scrambling to strengthen Kyiv's hand as Russia’s war drags toward the four-year mark and US President Donald Trump pushes for a quick deal to end the fighting.

EU holds crunch summit on Russian asset plan for Ukraine

KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelensky will be in Brussels on Thursday to convince European partners to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, despite Washington pressuring EU countries against the plan, a Ukrainian official told AFP. The European Union has laid out a plan to use the frozen assets to harness 90 billion euros ($105 billion) for a loan to help Ukraine repel Moscow&#39;s forces, with the money to be paid back by any eventual Russian reparations to Ukraine. &quot;The US administration is pressuring European countries to abandon the idea of using Russian assets to support Ukraine,&quot; a senior Ukrainian official said Wednesday. The plan has the strong backing of many member states, including Germany, but has drawn opposition from others, including Belgium -- home to international deposit organisation Euroclear, which holds most of the assets -- whose leaders fear Russian reprisals. The Ukrainian official said that seven countries so far opposed the plan. Zelensky &quot;is going to Brussels to motivate European countries to adopt this decision&quot; and tap the frozen assets, the source said. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has been in the spotlight over his opposition to using Russian assets for Ukraine, but there had been speculation that US President Donald Trump&#39;s administration was also weighing in on the debate. Washington appears to view the assets as a key bargaining chip and has looked to tempt Moscow to play ball by dangling the prospect it could get back some of the cash. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Wednesday that the Europeans were &quot;quietly asking us to intervene on this matter as they do not want to be publicly against it&quot;. &quot;They are afraid of the long-term damage it will do to long-term investments in their system and the credibility of their institutions,&quot; they added. A previous version of Trump&#39;s plan to end the war also provided for Washington to use some frozen Russian assets for a US-led reconstruction of the war-torn country. Around 200 billion euros in Russian central bank assets were frozen over Moscow&#39;s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said: &quot;Both the Ukrainians and the Russians have clearly stated positions regarding the frozen assets, and our only role is to facilitate a back-and-forth that can ultimately result in a deal.&quot;

President Zelensky seeks EU support to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, despite reported US pressure opposing the plan over fears of retaliation, investment risks, and use of assets as leverage

US 'pressuring' EU not to use frozen Russian assets for Kyiv: senior Ukraine official

STRASBOURG:&nbsp;EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday the bloc must take a decision on financing Ukraine at a crunch summit this week, with leaders under pressure to agree a plan to use frozen Russian assets. &ldquo;There is no more important act of European defense than supporting Ukraine&#39;s defense. The next days will be a crucial step for securing this, it is up to us to choose how we fund Ukraine&#39;s fight,&rdquo; von der Leyen told EU lawmakers. &ldquo;We know the urgency. It is acute. We all feel it. We all see it.&rdquo; 90B Euro loanVon der Leyen is pushing a plan to use frozen Russian central bank assets to provide Kyiv a 90-billion-euro loan over the next two years -- but that move faces fierce opposition from Belgium, which hosts most of the funds. Belgium fears the scheme could open it up to Russian reprisals and is insisting on rock-solid guarantees from other EU countries that they will share any legal and financial liabilities. Attempts to reassure the Belgian government have so far failed to break the deadlock, setting up a potentially marathon round of wrangling at the summit starting Thursday. In theory other EU leaders could override Belgium and ram the initiative through with a weighted majority -- but that would be a nuclear option that few see as likely for now. Fallback plan&nbsp;Von der Leyen&#39;s executive has floated a potential fallback plan of the EU raising the money itself to lend Ukraine. Diplomats have said that scheme appears to be a non-starter as it requires unanimous approval from the EU&#39;s 27 leaders and Hungary has ruled it out. &ldquo;We will have to decide which way we want to take, which route we want to take -- but one thing is very, very clear, we have to take the decision to fund Ukraine,&rdquo; von der Leyen said. &ldquo;This is also about strengthening Ukraine&#39;s ability to secure a real peace, one that is just, one that is lasting, and one that protects Ukraine and Europe.&rdquo;

Ursula von der Leyen tells EU lawmakers, ‘There is no more important act of European defense than supporting Ukraine's defense. The next days will be a crucial step for securing this, it is up to us to choose how we fund Ukraine's fight.’ 

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