Russia calls Ukraine loan ‘major blow’ to EU as Zelenskyy hails defence boost

Russia has branded the EU’s 90 billion-euro ($105.46 ⁠billion) loan decision to Ukraine a “major blow” for the bloc, even as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed it as a move that “truly strengthens” Ukraine’s defence. EU leaders decide on Friday to borrow cash to ​fund Ukraine's defence against Russia for ‌the next two years rather than use frozen Russian assets, sidestepping divisions over an unprecedented plan to finance Kiev with Russian sovereign ‌cash.