Global News Podcast Zelensky welcomes EU's $105 billion loan for Ukraine
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Dec 19, 2025 
Vitaly Shevchenko, Russia editor for BBC Monitoring, shares insights on Putin’s claims that the West is making Russia the enemy. James Waterhouse, BBC correspondent in Brussels, discusses the EU's historic $105 billion loan to Ukraine, addressing the political dynamics and legal concerns surrounding frozen Russian assets. Victoria Gill, BBC science correspondent, takes listeners underground in Finland to explore the Onkalo facility for nuclear waste disposal, revealing innovative containment techniques.
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EU Loan Keeps Ukraine Afloat
- The EU agreed a roughly $100bn loan to keep Ukraine functioning despite failing to use frozen Russian assets as collateral.
- The funding preserves Ukraine's operations while exposing divisions among EU members over long-term support.
Money Matches Needs, Not Unity
- James Waterhouse noted the loan matches what Kiev wanted but highlighted growing divisions among European donors.
- Zelensky can use the cash to pivot to US-led peace and security guarantee efforts, despite fractures in EU unity.
Putin Rejects Compromise
- Vladimir Putin framed the EU's frozen assets debate as 'daylight robbery' and blamed the West for the conflict.
- He said Russia would only stop if its security was guaranteed on Russia's terms, signalling no willingness to compromise.