Ukraine claimed to have struck a Russian warship and drilling facilities in the Caspian Sea during Kyiv’s latest maritime blitz against Putin’s ailing war machine.
The nighttime drone attack hit the Okhotnik-class patrol ship and an offshore drilling platform in the Filanovsky oil and gas field, owned by sanctioned energy giant Lukoil, according to Ukraine’s SOFCOM.
Damage was still being assessed on Saturday, Ukraine’s general staff said. Drones separately struck a radar system in annexed Crimea.
The reports emerged after Ukraine claimed its first attack on a Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker in the Mediterranean on Friday.
The Qendil tanker sustained critical damage from the strikes in neutral waters off the coast of Libya, more than 2,000km from Ukraine, an official from Ukraine’s SBU security service said.
Russia’s “shadow fleet” of unregulated ships has been a thorn in the side of Kyiv, allowing Russia to export large quantities of oil and fund its invasion despite Western sanctions.
The strikes come as Europe announced a €90bn (£79bn) loan for Ukraine over two years – a boon for Kyiv’s economy, but less than hoped as leaders failed to agree on the use of frozen Russian assets.
Read MoreWatch: Putin calls European leaders ‘little pigs’ ahead of crucial summit in Brussels
Belarusian leader says Russia deployed its latest nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile to the country
Is Putin turning his frozen assets from a weakness into a weapon?
British man captured by Russian forces while ‘fighting for Ukraine’ jailed for 13 years
Key Points
- Ukraine says it has hit a Russian shadow tanker fleet in Mediterranean Sea
- EU leaders agree to give €90bn loan to Ukraine
- Kremlin gloats over final decision not to use Russia's assets
- Ukraine 'hits Russian warship in the Caspian'
Putin's goals unchanged since Ukraine invasion, US intelligence says
14:01 , James ReynoldsUS intelligence reports have warned that Moscow’s goals have not changed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, despite president Vladimir Putin denying that he poses a threat to Europe.
Even as negotiations are underway to end the war, Putin is seeking control of all of Ukraine and territories of former Soviet bloc states, including members of the Nato alliance, Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with US intelligence.
“The intelligence has always been that Putin wants more. The Europeans are convinced of it. The Poles are absolutely convinced of it. The Baltics think they’re first,” Mike Quigley, a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, told Reuters.
Russia accused of deliberately targeting civilians.
13:29 , James ReynoldsMoscow's troops are deliberately targeting civilian logistics routes in the Odesa region, Ukraine's deputy prime minister said on Saturday.
Russia today struck reservoirs in Ukraine's southern Pivdennyi port, Oleksiy Kuleba said on the Telegram app.
It came a day after a missile strike killed eight people there.
Ukraine to make sea drones with Portugal
12:54 , James ReynoldsUkraine and Portugal have agreed on the joint production of Ukrainian sea drones.
Ukraine’s presidential aide Oleksandr Kamyshin wrote on social media today that after proving their worth, the drones “will help Portugal defend Europe from the sea”.
‘I was a British POW tortured by Russia; this is how Ukraine and the West can win this war’
12:29 , James ReynoldsAiden Aslin, a British volunteer who joined the Ukraine’s marines, was captured and tortured by Putin’s forces in 2022 and is now back fighting the Kremlin. He tells his story to the World of Trouble podcast with world affairs editor Sam Kiley in eastern Ukraine:
‘I was a British POW tortured by Russia; this is how Ukraine can win this war’
ICYMI: Questions flagged by Russians to Putin during Friday's major conference
12:01 , James ReynoldsDuring the more than four-and-a-half-hour televised conference yesterday, Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke to reporters as questions from Russians flashed on screens in the hall.
Many of the questions focused on Russians’ financial concerns amid a slowing economy and high inflation.
“When you will return the ‘normal internet?’ It’s impossible to even send a question to the president!” one question asked.
“Are you going to nominate yourself to run for president in 2030?” asked another.
“Stop price increases!” said another.
Ukraine cannot continue to survive on Europe’s starvation rations
11:37 , James ReynoldsEditorial: Despite agreeing to a €90bn interest-free loan that could keep Kyiv afloat for two years, European leaders seem unduly nervous about forcing Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. If Europe is ever to defeat Russia, it must now go further – or risk humiliation:
Ukraine cannot continue to survive on Europe’s starvation rations
Russia claims two villages in Ukraine
11:04 , James ReynoldsRussia claims to have seized the villages of Svitle and Vysoke in Donetsk and Sumy regions respectively.
Russia’s Defence Ministry made the claims on social media on Saturday.
The Independent could not independently confirm the battlefield report.
EU to pay €3bn per year in interest on Ukraine loan
10:34 , James ReynoldsEU taxpayers will pay €3 billion per year in interest on the new loan for Ukraine after leaders failed to agree on how to use frozen Russian assets, senior Commission officials told Politico.
Leaders came together this week with the aim of securing a loan against some of Russia’s €210bn in frozen assets held within the EU.
They emerged without consensus and instead agreed to raise €90bn (£79bn) for the next two years in common debt, backed by the EU budget.
Why the EU could not agree on using £80bn of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine
ICYMI: Ukraine heads for next round of talks
10:00 , James ReynoldsUkrainian negotiators headed for the latest round of peace talks with the US on Friday after wrapping up productive discussions in Berlin at the start of the week.
Rustem Umerov, who is in the United States for the talks, said on Friday that Kyiv’s European partners will also be involved in the discussions.
"We are constructively minded. We have already held preliminary consultations with our European colleagues and are preparing for further discussions with the American side," Umerov said. "... Ukraine’s security must be guaranteed reliably and in the long term."
Here’s the latest:
Ukraine strikes Russian tanker in the Mediterranean after receiving £80bn loan
At least 8 dead and dozens wounded in Russian strike on Odesa port
09:30 , Vishwam SankaranEight people have been confirmed dead and 27 wounded in a missile strike by Russian troops on Odesa port, Ukraine's Emergency Service said today.
"Yesterday evening, Russia carried out a missile strike on a port infrastructure facility in Odesa Oblast. Some of the victims were on a bus that was at the epicentre of the strike," the emergency service said in a statement.
Several of the injured were on a bus when Russia struck the port with ballistic missiles, according to Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odesa region.
Several cars and trucks were also damaged in the attack, the emergency service said.
Ukraine 'hits Russian warship in the Caspian'
09:26 , James ReynoldsUkraine claimed to have struck a Russian warship in the Caspian Sea on Friday night.
They said this morning that the Russian warship Okhotnik had been hit by multiple drones while patrolling in the sea near an oil and gas production platform.
The damage was still being clarified, they said.
A drilling platform at the Filanovsky oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea was also hit.
In Photos: Ukrainian artist turns battlefield relics into display of Ukraine's resistance
09:00 , Vishwam Sankaran Video: At least 15 wounded in Russia's Baltic Sea attack
08:00 , Vishwam SankaranICYMI: Questions flagged by Russians to Putin during conference
07:30 , Vishwam SankaranDuring the more than four-and-a-half-hour televised conference yesterday, Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke to reporters as questions from Russians flashed on screens in the hall.
Many of the questions focused on Russians’ financial concerns amid a slowing economy and high inflation.
“When you will return the ‘normal internet?’ It’s impossible to even send a question to the president!” one question asked.
“Are you going to nominate yourself to run for president in 2030?” asked another.
“Stop price increases!” said another.
Starmer tells Roman Abramovich to transfer money from Chelsea sale to Ukraine fund
07:00 , Tara CobhamSir Keir Starmer has warned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich that the “clock is ticking” for him to hand over the £2.5bn he received from the sale of Chelsea Football Club.
The prime minister told MPs on Wednesday that a licence has been issued, allowing the money to be transferred to the people of Ukraine suffering at the hands of the Russian invasion.
The announcement is the first major move in transferring Europe-based Russian assets for the rebuilding of Ukraine. It follows a mini-summit between Sir Keir and the Belgian prime minister Bart de Wever last week to discuss Russian assets, most of which are based in Belgium.
Political Editor David Maddox reports:
Starmer threatens to seize £2.5bn from Roman Abramovich after Chelsea sale
Video: Russia will come for Poland if Moscow takes Ukraine, Zelensky warns
06:30 , Vishwam SankaranTurkish authorities investigate drone crash days after shooting down another UAV
06:00 , Tara CobhamAuthorities on Friday opened an investigation into an unmanned aerial vehicle that crashed in northwest Turkey, just days after the country shot down another drone that entered its airspace from the Black Sea.
Residents in Kocaeli province discovered the damaged UAV in a field, prompting an official investigation into the wreckage, NTV news channel and other reports said.
An initial assessment indicates the aircraft could be a Russian*made Orlan*10 reconnaissance drone, the Interior Ministry said in a statement, adding that an investigation was ongoing.
On Monday, Turkish F-16 fighter planes intercepted what officials described as an "out of control" drone after it violated the country's airspace.
The defense ministry said that drone was destroyed in a safe location to protect civilians and air traffic. Turkey's government subsequently warned both Russia and Ukraine to exercise greater caution over Black Sea security.
That shootdown came after a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russian "shadow fleet" of tankers off the Turkish coast, raising concerns in Turkey about the risk of the war in Ukraine spilling over into the region.
The defense ministry said the drone that was shot down on Monday likely broke into small fragments that scattered over a wide area, complicating efforts to identify it. Search and technical analysis efforts were still underway, it said.
Ukraine thanks EU for $100bn loan
05:39 , Vishwam SankaranKyiv thanked the European Union on Friday for agreeing to provide a loan of €90bn ($105bn) over the next two years even as the bloc failed to deliver on an ambitious plan to support Ukraine using frozen Russian assets.
"This is significant support that truly strengthens our resilience," Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram.
EU agreed to provide the loan after hours of discussion on a proposal to provide an unprecedented loan based on frozen Russian assets.
Russian president Vladimir Putin said the EU backed away from the original plan to use Moscow's frozen assets as it would have led to serious repercussions.
Video: EU agrees to provide Ukraine $105bn over next two years
05:20 , Vishwam SankaranWatch: Zelensky says Russia is preparing for 'year of war'
05:00 , Tara CobhamPutin's goals unchanged since Ukraine invasion, US intelligence says
04:46 , Vishwam SankaranUS intelligence reports have warned that Moscow’s goals have not changed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, despite president Vladimir Putin denying that he poses a threat to Europe.
Even as negotiations are underway to end the war, Putin is seeking control of all of Ukraine and territories of former Soviet bloc states, including members of the Nato alliance, Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with US intelligence.
“The intelligence has always been that Putin wants more. The Europeans are convinced of it. The Poles are absolutely convinced of it. The Baltics think they’re first,” Mike Quigley, a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, told Reuters.
Putin vows not to start new wars if West treats Russia with respect
04:17 , Vishwam SankaranRussian president Vladimir Putin told reporters yesterday that there will be no more wars after Ukraine if the West treated Russia with respect.
Asked by a BBC reporter whether there would be any new “special military operations” – the official term used by the Russian government to describe its invasion of Ukraine – Putin said “there won’t be” if the West respected Russia and its interests.
"There won't be if you treat us with respect and respect our interests, just as we've always tried to respect yours. Unless you cheat us, like you did with Nato's eastward expansion," the Russian president said at the televised event that lasted over four hours.
Earlier this month, he said Moscow was not planning to go to war with Europe, but was ready "right now" if Europeans wanted to.
British man captured by Russian forces while ‘fighting for Ukraine’ jailed for 13 years
04:00 , Tara CobhamA British man has been jailed for 13 years in a Russian maximum security prison camp after being convicted for fighting with the Ukrainian army, Russian prosecutors said.
Hayden Davies, 30 was accused by Moscow of being a “paid mercenary” who fought in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, where fierce fighting continues.
The office of Russia's Prosecutor General said he had been tried by a court in a part of Russian-controlled Donetsk, one of four Ukrainian regions which Moscow illegally claimed as its own in 2022. It did not say how Davies had pleaded.
Alex Croft reports:
British man captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine jailed for 13 years
Denmark blames Russia for cyberattacks on water utility that left houses without water
03:00 , Tara CobhamRussia carried out cyberattacks against infrastructure and websites in Denmark in 2024 and 2025, Danish authorities say in a new assessment published this week describing new cases not previously reported.
Moscow was responsible for "destructive and disruptive" cyberattacks on a Danish water utility company in 2024 and a series of denial of service attacks which overwhelmed Danish websites ahead of regional and local elections last month, Denmark's Defense Intelligence Service said in a statement Thursday. The water company said the attack caused pipes to burst, leaving homes temporarily without water.
Jan Hansen, the head of the Tureby Alkestrup Waterworks southwest of the capital Copenhagen, said his advice to other companies was not to cut costs on cybersecurity and to take out cyber insurance. The attack happened, he said, because the waterworks switched to cheaper cybersecurity, which was not as secure as that previously.
The Danish intelligence service said the attacks were part of Russia's "hybrid war" against the West and an attempt to create instability. It said Moscow's cyberattacks are part of a broader campaign to undermine and punish countries which support Ukraine. Russian hackers have previously been accused of carrying out hacks on other water facilities in Europe — including on a Norwegian dam where Norwegian authorities said hackers opened valves to allow water to pour out.
Torsten Schack Pedersen, Denmark's minister of resilience and preparedness, said the attacks resulted in limited damage but had serious ramifications.
"It shows that there are forces capable of shutting down important parts of our society," he said during a news conference Thursday, as reported by Danish broadcaster DR.
Schack Pedersen added that the cyberattacks show that Denmark is not sufficiently equipped to handle such situations, DR reported.
The attacks are among a growing number of incidents that Western officials say are part a campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe masterminded by Russia. An Associated Press database has documented 147 incidents, including the two cases reported by Denmark this week.
Watch: Ukrainian drones blow up Russian oil tanker in Mediterranean
02:00 , Tara CobhamWhy the EU could not agree on using £80bn of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort
01:00 , Tara CobhamEuropean Union leaders have agreed to borrow cash to loan €90 billion to Ukraine to fund its war effort against Russia for the next two years – but failed to reach an agreement on the use of frozen Russian assets.
After talks ended in the early hours of Friday, EU summit chairman Antonio Costa told reporters: “We committed and we delivered”.
As part of the agreement, the €90bn loan will be backed by the EU budget rather than using frozen Russian assets, a plan which had sparked divisions within the bloc. Belgium, where the majority of the assets are held, had said the plan was legally and financially unworkable.
James C. Reynolds and Maira Butt explain why the EU could not strike a deal on the use of frozen Russian assets:
Why the EU could not agree on using £80bn of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine
Russia's Dmitriev heading for US to meet Witkoff and Kushner, source says
00:02 , Tara CobhamRussian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, is heading to Miami for a meeting with US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, a Russian source told Reuters.
"Three-way contacts with the Ukrainian side are not planned," said the Russian source with direct knowledge of the visit, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Ukrainian negotiator says talks with US and European teams have ended
00:00 , Tara CobhamTop Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said on Friday that talks in the United States with US and European negotiators on a settlement to the war with Russia had ended, with participants agreeing to continue their joint efforts.
"We agreed with our American partners on further steps and on continuing our joint work in the near future," Umerov wrote on Telegram, adding that he had informed President Volodymyr Zelensky of the outcome of the talks.
US trying to 'figure out what Russia can give' and get, Rubio says
00:00 , Tara CobhamUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US diplomatic effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war will turn on identifying what compromises Moscow and Kyiv can accept.
"We're trying to figure out what can Russia give and what do they expect to get and what can Ukraine get," he said, emphasizing that any "negotiated settlement" requires sacrifices from both sides.
Rubio said that he, Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other top administration officials have invested considerable time pushing for answers, and "the decision will be up to Ukraine and up to Russia."
Rubio was speaking to reporters for the first time since a Vanity Fair piece quoted him and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles suggesting that Trump does not think Putin would be satisfied with annexing only a part of Ukraine.
Watch: Putin warns EU leaders of 'grave consequences' if Russia robbed of frozen assets
Friday 19 December 2025 23:00 , Tara CobhamRussian missiles attack port infrastructure near Ukraine's Odesa killing seven, deputy PM says
Friday 19 December 2025 22:17 , Tara CobhamA Russian missile attack on port infrastructure around Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa killed seven people and injured about 15 late on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said.
"In the late evening, Russia attacked port infrastructure in Odesa region with ballistic missiles," Kuleba wrote on Telegram.
"According to preliminary information, seven people were killed. About 15 were injured and are receiving help."
Rachel Reeves welcomes EU deal to loan billions to Ukraine
Friday 19 December 2025 22:00 , Tara CobhamRachel Reeves said the UK’s support for Ukraine remains “iron-clad” as she welcomed a European deal to provide billions more in financial support for Kyiv.
The European Council agreed on Thursday to provide an interest-free loan worth 90 billion euros (£78.8 billion) to support Ukraine’s military and economic needs over the next two years.
The Chancellor said she is “pleased” a deal had been reached, adding: “The UK’s support for Ukraine remains iron-clad.
Read more here:
Rachel Reeves welcomes EU deal to loan billions to Ukraine
Russian missile attack near Odesa kills seven, deputy PM says
Friday 19 December 2025 21:03 , James ReynoldsA Russian ballistic missile attack near Odesa killed seven people and injured around 15 late on Friday, deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said.
Rubio says he may join portion of Ukraine talks in Miami on Saturday
Friday 19 December 2025 21:00 , Tara CobhamUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that he may join a portion of talks on Ukraine on Saturday in Miami, adding that the talks were being held on Friday and Saturday.
Ukrainian peace negotiators will start a new round of talks on Friday with the US team on proposals for ending the war with Russia, said the head of Kyiv's delegation, Rustem Umerov. White House envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also planned to meet a Russian delegation in Miami this weekend, a White House official told Reuters, as they continue trying to hammer out an agreement to end Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Watch: ‘I was a British POW tortured by Russia – this is how Ukraine can win this war’
Friday 19 December 2025 20:00 , Tara CobhamUkrainian and Polish presidents show unity against Russia
Friday 19 December 2025 19:00 , Tara CobhamThe Ukrainian and Polish presidents met in Warsaw on Friday to underline their countries' unity in the face of Russia. They also signaled progress on historical reconciliation, which had caused tension in bilateral relations in the past.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was welcomed by his Polish counterpart, Karol Nawrocki, at the Presidential Palace for a visit intended to ensure that relations with key ally Poland remain stable, regardless of any change in power in Warsaw.
Poland’s liberal government is a solid backer of Ukraine, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk acting as one of the most visceral advocates of Kyiv in international fora. But presidential election results this year indicate that the previous, nationalist Law and Justice party might return to power in 2027.
Read more here:
Ukrainian and Polish presidents show unity against Russia, address historical tensions
Rubio says progress has been made in talks to end war in Ukraine but still a ways to go
Friday 19 December 2025 18:00 , Tara CobhamUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said that talks to end the war in Ukraine are not about imposing a deal on anybody, adding that progress has been made but there is a ways to go.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference, Rubio added that the last issues are always the hardest.
Angry Russians turn on Putin over poverty and stagnant economy during marathon press conference
Friday 19 December 2025 17:26 , James ReynoldsRussian frustrations cut through a meticulously controlled marathon press conference delivered by President Vladimir Putin on Friday, revealing the hardships facing ordinary people:
Angry Russians turn on Putin over poverty and economy during press conference
Ukraine urges Europe not to give up on reparations loan
Friday 19 December 2025 17:00 , James ReynoldsUkraine's Finance Minister said on Friday that the EU’s 90 billion euro loan was insufficient to fully cover the country’s financial needs, urging partners to continue work on a reparations loan.
"The reparations loan is a systemic, long-term solution. It will ensure sustainable defense capabilities and protect Europe from future conflicts," Serhiy Marchenko told finance ministers from the G7 countries.
"The risks to Europe from a potential defeat of Ukraine far exceed the risks of introducing the reparations mechanism.”
Zelensky warns Europe to take Oreshnik threat seriously
Friday 19 December 2025 16:15 , James ReynoldsPresident Zelensky wrote on social media today to urge allies to take seriously the threat posed by Russia’s Oreshnik missile.
He said that the missile’s relocation to Belarus was “nearing completion”, and that Ukraine is sharing its intelligence with its partners.
“This poses a threat to many European countries, including Poland, Germany, and others,” he said, noting Oreshnik cannot be intercepted by drones and calling for sanctions on countries supplying components.
“If our partners – the United States and others – are making significant diplomatic efforts to end the war, can they also apply pressure on Russia to prevent it from deploying Oreshnik closer to Europe, closer to the borders with Poland? I believe this is something that must be addressed.”
Belarusian leader says Russia deployed its latest nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile to the country
Peace talks to resume today, Kyiv says
Friday 19 December 2025 15:47 , James ReynoldsUkrainian negotiators will start a new round of talks with the US today.
Rustem Umerov, leading Kyiv’s delegation, said European allies would be involved in the talks.
We learned earlier that national security advisors for Britain, France and Germany would be at the White House for talks with their Ukrainian counterpart and the US envoy.
Turkey recovers Russian drone near Istanbul
Friday 19 December 2025 15:19 , James ReynoldsTurkey’s interior ministry said authorities found a Russian reconnaissance drone in a northwestern city on Friday.
The drone was found in Çubuklubala Neighbourhood in the İzmit district of Kocaeli, they said on social media.
The UAV was initially identified as a Russian Orlan-10 drone used for recon missions and surveillance. The investigation is still ongoing.
In pictures: 'Moment Ukraine blows up "shadow fleet" tanker'
Friday 19 December 2025 15:15 , James ReynoldsUkraine’s security service has shared footage of the moment it says drones blew up an empty Russian tanker in neutral waters off the coast of Libya:
Russia's central bank threatens Belgium's Euroclear
Friday 19 December 2025 15:04 , James ReynoldsRussia’s central bank says it is not going to withdraw its lawsuit against Euroclear, the Belgium-based company at the centre of the EU’s row on frozen Russian assets.
The bank said on Friday they were considering ‘defending our interests’ in international courts.
As a reminder, Europe today agreed to give Ukraine a loan worth £79bn after failing to agree on using frozen assets worth €210bn.
Putin's end-of-year conference: A lesson in spin
Friday 19 December 2025 14:29 , James ReynoldsVladimir Putin was in Moscow today to speak with the public about the things that matter to them.
Traditionally, these talks last several hours and focus on domestic issues. This year, it was the war in Ukraine that dominated.
Since the event is highly choreographed, that may be an effort to win over and reassure the public before heading to the US to discuss their latest draft of peace proposals.
Asked by a soldier's widow about the slowness in paying out a pension, Putin apologised and vowed the issue would be quickly solved - an exchange typical of the event, which he often uses to show his ability to solve a wide array of problems.
Putin stressed the strength of Russia’s position on the battlefield and reiterated his maximalist demands of Ukraine. He spoke again of the “root causes” of the war and threatened to achieve Russia’s goals by force if not diplomacy.
Witkoff to meet with European national security advisors
Friday 19 December 2025 14:27 , James ReynoldsTrump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Ukraine national security advisor will be meeting with the national security advisors of the UK, France and Germany in Miami on Friday, Axios is reporting.
The EU’s €90bn won’t win the war – but at least Ukraine won’t lose (for now)
Friday 19 December 2025 14:03 , James ReynoldsPresident Zelensky has welcomed Europe’s loan but what he really needs is for Putin’s economy to crash – and the Western allies to stop running scared of the Russian paper bear, writes Sean O’Grady:
The EU’s €90bn won’t win the war – but at least Ukraine won’t lose (for now)