Here are the pluses from the EU decision on Ukraine loan. 1/ Ukraine has been promised the full amount. and it can be simply carried out. No national parliaments need to approve. 2/ The process got Russian assets indefinitely locked up which wouldn't have happened without push.

All in all it was a good outcome of the 🇪🇺 summit. Securing financing for the next few years for 🇺🇦 was crucial, and that was achieved. And if there is a slight delay with the Mercosur deal one can live with that.

❗️"Ukraine, when attracting a €90 billion loan from the European Union, will have to give priority to purchasing weapons from manufacturers in EU countries and Ukraine." — French President Macron

For decades, Belgium has been Europe’s beating heart. That its current prime minister fought against the EU ― and won ― ushers in a dramatic new chapter for the bloc. politico.eu/article/europe…

'Peace' as Putin spells out (again and again) Russian aims of return of historical lands. It's appeasement, Hitler style.

Nobody is going to bailout Moscow when the Russian economy craters

One of the greatest things about the US is its incredible data, which is available at high frequency and in great detail. But here we are. There's essentially no CPI data for October and the November data point looks highly suspect. Banana Republic USA... robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/banana-repub…

As the Ukrainians say - in every joke there is a little bit of joke and mostly truth.

What a disaster for Germany and all other well-governed EU countries. The decision to do joint EU borrowing for Ukraine protects Russia’s frozen FX reserves and does the bidding of broken, high-debt sovereigns who use every opportunity to federalize debt. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/ac…

How Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia free ride on their fellow Europeans #EUCO who bear the costs for Ukraine defense and EU security

Not financing Ukraine to be able to make a difference and deter Russia but to endure. Selfish, shortsighted, prolonging the war and bringing it closer to Europe.

Making Ukraine weaker makes WWIII more likely not less likely.

Putin calls frozen asset confiscation “burglary,” yet Russia has looted Ukraine since 2014 — land, homes, industry, museums, and most terrifyingly, children.

Ukraine's SBU intelligence service struck the Russian tanker "QENDIL", part of the so called 'shadow fleet', whilst it was sailing in the Mediterranean, according to Ukrainian outlet RBC. The attack took place more than 2,000km from Ukraine.

This attack used long range bomber drones - probably "Vampire" types or similar - and once again demonstrates the reach of both the Ukrainian drone programme and Ukrainian intelligence.

Your decision enables Ukraine to endure terrible suffering & more killing, but NOT to deter! Making Ukraine weaker slowly makes a larger war more likely, not less likely. Shortsighted and cowardly is the likely verdict of history.

'War-mongering' is an absolute Russian propaganda term. Only Russia drives this war. Ukraine, and to a lesser extent Europe, are victims trying (desperately in the case of Ukraine) to limit the damage. Either Munchau is being paid or a useful idiot. Sad either way.

And by the same logic, the UK was absolutely wrong to resist Hitler.

Misrepresentation as usual.