European Union envoys are fine-tuning a plan to use frozen Russian assets as collateral for a massive loan to support Ukraine over the next two years

Often left out by the United States in peace negotiations, European countries are working to assert their leadership and bolster Ukraine with an ambitious funding plan. But can they agree?

The European Union on Friday indefinitely froze Russia’s assets in Europe to ensure that Hungary and Slovakia, both with Moscow-friendly governments, can’t prevent the billions of euros from being used to support Ukraine.

Unveiling her plan on Dec. 4, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would cover two-thirds of Ukraine’s needs for 2026 and 2027, for a total of 90 billion euros ($105 billion). International partners would fill the gap.

Russia has suggested it may accept Ukraine joining the European Union as part of a peace agreement to end the ongoing conflict, according to US officials., World News, Times Now

European leaders said Dec. 15 that "significant progress" had been made after two days of peace talks in Berlin and presented a plan for security guarantees and economic recovery support for Ukraine as part of an agreement to end Russia's war.

The European Union may move to freeze Russian assets in Europe as Ukraine continues to fight a bloody war against Russia, Reuters reports. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that the EU is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia. Source: statement by von der Leyen posted on the official European Commission website Details: The statement noted that the EU is working on every step that will ultimately put an end to the bloodshed.

Ukraine claimed it carried out an underwater drone strike on Dec. 15, the first such attack in maritime warfare, that critically damaged a Russian Kilo-class attack submarine at the Russian port of Novorossiysk,

Ukraine's lead negotiator Rustem Umerov said on social media that “real progress” had been achieved at the talks in Berlin with President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner as well as European officials,