Jorge Liboreiro
@jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social
Reporter at Euronews covering EU politics. Lover of cinema, sushi and synonyms. Brussels resident since 2018. All views my own! 🦄
With a four-page letter, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has set the bar impossibly high for approving the reparations loan for Ukraine.
As the deadlock deepens, the EU consider an emergency funding solution to plug the gap.
Here's where we are now.
As the deadlock deepens, the EU consider an emergency funding solution to plug the gap.
Here's where we are now.
EU weighs Plan B for Ukraine as Belgium raises bar on reparations loan
Belgian Prime Minister De Wever lashed out at plans for a reparations loan in a strongly worded letter to Ursula von der Leyen, calling it dangerous and wrong. European officials are seriously conside...
euronews.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:29 AM
With a four-page letter, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has set the bar impossibly high for approving the reparations loan for Ukraine.
As the deadlock deepens, the EU consider an emergency funding solution to plug the gap.
Here's where we are now.
As the deadlock deepens, the EU consider an emergency funding solution to plug the gap.
Here's where we are now.
Commission's initial reply to De Wever:
"These are uncharted waters, so it’s legitimate to ask questions, to share concerns, and we are really doing our utmost to address those concerns in a satisfactory manner so that everybody can feel confident and comfortable with any solution."
"These are uncharted waters, so it’s legitimate to ask questions, to share concerns, and we are really doing our utmost to address those concerns in a satisfactory manner so that everybody can feel confident and comfortable with any solution."
🚨🚨🚨 Bombshell news: Belgian PM Bart De Wever tells Ursula von der Leyen that her proposal for a reparations loan is “fundamentally wrong” and calls on the EU to raise €45 billion in fresh debt to support Ukraine instead.
I got the must-read letter.
I got the must-read letter.
Belgian prime minister doubles down on opposition to reparations loan
Hopes to secure a reparations loan for Ukraine have been dashed after the Belgian prime minister blasted the proposal as "fundamentally wrong" and called on the EU to raise fresh debt instead of touch...
www.euronews.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Commission's initial reply to De Wever:
"These are uncharted waters, so it’s legitimate to ask questions, to share concerns, and we are really doing our utmost to address those concerns in a satisfactory manner so that everybody can feel confident and comfortable with any solution."
"These are uncharted waters, so it’s legitimate to ask questions, to share concerns, and we are really doing our utmost to address those concerns in a satisfactory manner so that everybody can feel confident and comfortable with any solution."
Zelenskyy: "In order to have internal strength, there should be no reason to be distracted by anything other than defending Ukraine. I want no one to have any questions about Ukraine."
Huge news: Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's powerful chief of staff and key negotiator in the peace process, has resigned amid a spiralling corruption scandal.
Anti-corruption investigators raid Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Yermak
NABU is probing a corruption scandal involving Ukraine's nuclear power company, with searches at President Zelenskyy's aide Yermak's premises.
www.euronews.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Zelenskyy: "In order to have internal strength, there should be no reason to be distracted by anything other than defending Ukraine. I want no one to have any questions about Ukraine."
Huge news: Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's powerful chief of staff and key negotiator in the peace process, has resigned amid a spiralling corruption scandal.
Anti-corruption investigators raid Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Yermak
NABU is probing a corruption scandal involving Ukraine's nuclear power company, with searches at President Zelenskyy's aide Yermak's premises.
www.euronews.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Huge news: Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's powerful chief of staff and key negotiator in the peace process, has resigned amid a spiralling corruption scandal.
Important development in the corruption scandal inside Ukraine: the National Anti-Corruption Bureau is conducting searches at premises linked to Zelenskyy's powerful chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.
Anti-corruption investigators raid Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Yermak
NABU is probing a corruption scandal involving Ukraine's nuclear power company, with searches at President Zelenskyy's aide Yermak's premises.
www.euronews.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Important development in the corruption scandal inside Ukraine: the National Anti-Corruption Bureau is conducting searches at premises linked to Zelenskyy's powerful chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.
De Wever makes a hard push for Option 2: joint debt backed by the EU budget.
"Such an option would, as a matter of fact, come cheaper than other options, in particular the option of a reparations loan, if all risks are factored in."
"Such an option would, as a matter of fact, come cheaper than other options, in particular the option of a reparations loan, if all risks are factored in."
🚨🚨🚨 Bombshell news: Belgian PM Bart De Wever tells Ursula von der Leyen that her proposal for a reparations loan is “fundamentally wrong” and calls on the EU to raise €45 billion in fresh debt to support Ukraine instead.
I got the must-read letter.
I got the must-read letter.
Belgian prime minister doubles down on opposition to reparations loan
Hopes to secure a reparations loan for Ukraine have been dashed after the Belgian prime minister blasted the proposal as "fundamentally wrong" and called on the EU to raise fresh debt instead of touch...
www.euronews.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:39 AM
De Wever makes a hard push for Option 2: joint debt backed by the EU budget.
"Such an option would, as a matter of fact, come cheaper than other options, in particular the option of a reparations loan, if all risks are factored in."
"Such an option would, as a matter of fact, come cheaper than other options, in particular the option of a reparations loan, if all risks are factored in."
🚨🚨🚨 Bombshell news: Belgian PM Bart De Wever tells Ursula von der Leyen that her proposal for a reparations loan is “fundamentally wrong” and calls on the EU to raise €45 billion in fresh debt to support Ukraine instead.
I got the must-read letter.
I got the must-read letter.
Belgian prime minister doubles down on opposition to reparations loan
Hopes to secure a reparations loan for Ukraine have been dashed after the Belgian prime minister blasted the proposal as "fundamentally wrong" and called on the EU to raise fresh debt instead of touch...
www.euronews.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:13 AM
🚨🚨🚨 Bombshell news: Belgian PM Bart De Wever tells Ursula von der Leyen that her proposal for a reparations loan is “fundamentally wrong” and calls on the EU to raise €45 billion in fresh debt to support Ukraine instead.
I got the must-read letter.
I got the must-read letter.
Surprise, surprise: Vladimir Putin says the 28-point plan can be a basis for negotiations and doubles down on his maximalist demands.
- Recognition of occupied territories
- Ukraine's withdrawal from Donbas
- Veto on Ukraine's NATO accession
- No Western troops in Ukraine
- Recognition of occupied territories
- Ukraine's withdrawal from Donbas
- Veto on Ukraine's NATO accession
- No Western troops in Ukraine
November 27, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Surprise, surprise: Vladimir Putin says the 28-point plan can be a basis for negotiations and doubles down on his maximalist demands.
- Recognition of occupied territories
- Ukraine's withdrawal from Donbas
- Veto on Ukraine's NATO accession
- No Western troops in Ukraine
- Recognition of occupied territories
- Ukraine's withdrawal from Donbas
- Veto on Ukraine's NATO accession
- No Western troops in Ukraine
Dmytro Kuleba warns against capping the size of the Ukrainian army.
"We will pave the road to hell with good intentions of satisfying the Russians. And capping the army is the most prominent example of that effort," Kuleba told @maredgwyn.bsky.social.
"We will pave the road to hell with good intentions of satisfying the Russians. And capping the army is the most prominent example of that effort," Kuleba told @maredgwyn.bsky.social.
Capping Ukrainian army would ‘pave the road to hell,’ Kuleba says
Capitulating to Russian demands with a limit on the number of Ukrainian troops would humiliate the nation and “pave the road to hell”, Dmytro Kuleba, who served as Ukraine’s foreign minister under Pre...
www.euronews.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Dmytro Kuleba warns against capping the size of the Ukrainian army.
"We will pave the road to hell with good intentions of satisfying the Russians. And capping the army is the most prominent example of that effort," Kuleba told @maredgwyn.bsky.social.
"We will pave the road to hell with good intentions of satisfying the Russians. And capping the army is the most prominent example of that effort," Kuleba told @maredgwyn.bsky.social.
Turkey on the multinational force for Ukraine.
"First, a ceasefire must be established between Russia and Ukraine. Afterwards, a mission framework must be established with a clear mandate, and the extent to which each country will contribute must be determined."
"First, a ceasefire must be established between Russia and Ukraine. Afterwards, a mission framework must be established with a clear mandate, and the extent to which each country will contribute must be determined."
November 27, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Turkey on the multinational force for Ukraine.
"First, a ceasefire must be established between Russia and Ukraine. Afterwards, a mission framework must be established with a clear mandate, and the extent to which each country will contribute must be determined."
"First, a ceasefire must be established between Russia and Ukraine. Afterwards, a mission framework must be established with a clear mandate, and the extent to which each country will contribute must be determined."
Ukraine and the IMF have reached a staff-level agreement on a new assistance programme worth $8.1 billion. But the IMF's final approval will depend on whether EU countries can reach a deal on how to support Ukraine and provide financial stability.
Either a reparations loan or fresh debt.
Either a reparations loan or fresh debt.
November 27, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Ukraine and the IMF have reached a staff-level agreement on a new assistance programme worth $8.1 billion. But the IMF's final approval will depend on whether EU countries can reach a deal on how to support Ukraine and provide financial stability.
Either a reparations loan or fresh debt.
Either a reparations loan or fresh debt.
Russia says the leaked phone call between Steve Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov amounts to... hybrid warfare.
Quite the line.
Quite the line.
Russia says leak of Witkoff call recording is unacceptable, amounts to hybrid warfare
Russia said that the leak of a recording of a call between top advisers to Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin was an unacceptable attempt to undermine Ukraine peace negotiations and amounted to hybrid wa...
www.reuters.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Russia says the leaked phone call between Steve Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov amounts to... hybrid warfare.
Quite the line.
Quite the line.
Kaja Kallas has an idea for the peace talks: cap the size of Russia’s army rather than Ukraine’s.
“The focus should be on what kind of concessions (and) limitations we see from the Russian side.”
“The focus should be on what kind of concessions (and) limitations we see from the Russian side.”
Peace deal should limit Russia's army, not Ukraine's, says Kaja Kallas
EU foreign ministers met on Wednesday to discuss efforts to end Russia's war on Ukraine. "The focus should be on what kind of concessions we see from the Russian side," High Representative Kaja Kallas...
www.euronews.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Kaja Kallas has an idea for the peace talks: cap the size of Russia’s army rather than Ukraine’s.
“The focus should be on what kind of concessions (and) limitations we see from the Russian side.”
“The focus should be on what kind of concessions (and) limitations we see from the Russian side.”
Von der Leyen says the European Commission will soon present a legal text for the reparations loan.
"To be very clear – I cannot see any scenario in which the European taxpayers alone will pay the bill. This is also not acceptable."
"To be very clear – I cannot see any scenario in which the European taxpayers alone will pay the bill. This is also not acceptable."
Sanctions relief? No, says Ursula von der Leyen.
"Europe must keep up the pressure," she says. "For Russia, any peace deal is about permanently redrawing maps. It is about returning to great power relations and spheres of influence."
"Europe must keep up the pressure," she says. "For Russia, any peace deal is about permanently redrawing maps. It is about returning to great power relations and spheres of influence."
'Europe must keep pressure on Russia', von der Leyen says
The EU Commission president called on Europeans to step up pressure on Moscow and warned that despite its stated intention to engage in peace talks, "Russia's mindset has not changed".
www.euronews.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Von der Leyen says the European Commission will soon present a legal text for the reparations loan.
"To be very clear – I cannot see any scenario in which the European taxpayers alone will pay the bill. This is also not acceptable."
"To be very clear – I cannot see any scenario in which the European taxpayers alone will pay the bill. This is also not acceptable."
Sanctions relief? No, says Ursula von der Leyen.
"Europe must keep up the pressure," she says. "For Russia, any peace deal is about permanently redrawing maps. It is about returning to great power relations and spheres of influence."
"Europe must keep up the pressure," she says. "For Russia, any peace deal is about permanently redrawing maps. It is about returning to great power relations and spheres of influence."
'Europe must keep pressure on Russia', von der Leyen says
The EU Commission president called on Europeans to step up pressure on Moscow and warned that despite its stated intention to engage in peace talks, "Russia's mindset has not changed".
www.euronews.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Sanctions relief? No, says Ursula von der Leyen.
"Europe must keep up the pressure," she says. "For Russia, any peace deal is about permanently redrawing maps. It is about returning to great power relations and spheres of influence."
"Europe must keep up the pressure," she says. "For Russia, any peace deal is about permanently redrawing maps. It is about returning to great power relations and spheres of influence."
"It is time that we stop discussing different options and move forward," Valdis Dombrovskis told @euronews.com.
The reparations loan "can provide sizable support for Ukraine without putting additional and substantial fiscal burden on the EU or its member states."
The reparations loan "can provide sizable support for Ukraine without putting additional and substantial fiscal burden on the EU or its member states."
EU should use frozen assets for Ukraine, Dombrovskis tells Euronews
In an interview with Euronews' flagship morning show Europe Today, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis said that the EU should stop discussing the options to finance ...
www.euronews.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:56 AM
"It is time that we stop discussing different options and move forward," Valdis Dombrovskis told @euronews.com.
The reparations loan "can provide sizable support for Ukraine without putting additional and substantial fiscal burden on the EU or its member states."
The reparations loan "can provide sizable support for Ukraine without putting additional and substantial fiscal burden on the EU or its member states."
Trump’s response: “I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages."
Volodymyr Zelenskyy hints at going to Washington with Europeans to finalise the peace framework:
"I am ready to meet with President Trump – there are sensitive points to discuss, we have them still, and we think that the presence of European leaders could be helpful."
"I am ready to meet with President Trump – there are sensitive points to discuss, we have them still, and we think that the presence of European leaders could be helpful."
November 25, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Trump’s response: “I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages."
Volodymyr Zelenskyy hints at going to Washington with Europeans to finalise the peace framework:
"I am ready to meet with President Trump – there are sensitive points to discuss, we have them still, and we think that the presence of European leaders could be helpful."
"I am ready to meet with President Trump – there are sensitive points to discuss, we have them still, and we think that the presence of European leaders could be helpful."
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Volodymyr Zelenskyy hints at going to Washington with Europeans to finalise the peace framework:
"I am ready to meet with President Trump – there are sensitive points to discuss, we have them still, and we think that the presence of European leaders could be helpful."
"I am ready to meet with President Trump – there are sensitive points to discuss, we have them still, and we think that the presence of European leaders could be helpful."
Boots on the ground: Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer defy Moscow and insist that a multinational force will be indispensable to safeguard peace in post-war Ukraine.
I have the latest on the "Coalition of the Willing".
I have the latest on the "Coalition of the Willing".
Peace talks: France and UK insist on multinational force for Ukraine
France and the UK have reaffirmed their intention to put boots on the ground once Russia's war on Ukraine is over. "Real rock-solid guarantees are a necessity," said French President Emmanuel Macron.
www.euronews.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Boots on the ground: Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer defy Moscow and insist that a multinational force will be indispensable to safeguard peace in post-war Ukraine.
I have the latest on the "Coalition of the Willing".
I have the latest on the "Coalition of the Willing".
After the meeting of the Coaltion of the Willing, Emmanuel Macron announces the creation of a working group to "precisely" finalise the security guarantees for Ukraine.
It will be led by France and the UK and include Turkey and, "for the first time," the United States.
It will be led by France and the UK and include Turkey and, "for the first time," the United States.
November 25, 2025 at 5:26 PM
After the meeting of the Coaltion of the Willing, Emmanuel Macron announces the creation of a working group to "precisely" finalise the security guarantees for Ukraine.
It will be led by France and the UK and include Turkey and, "for the first time," the United States.
It will be led by France and the UK and include Turkey and, "for the first time," the United States.
Emmanuel Macron: "We want peace, but we do not want a peace that is a capitulation that puts Ukraine in an impossible situation and allows Russia to go further and endanger the security of all of us."
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Emmanuel Macron: "We want peace, but we do not want a peace that is a capitulation that puts Ukraine in an impossible situation and allows Russia to go further and endanger the security of all of us."
Ukraine says it has reached a "common understanding on the core terms of the agreement" with the United States after the Geneva talks.
The most sensitive issues are left open pending a face-to-face meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump.
The most sensitive issues are left open pending a face-to-face meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump.
November 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Ukraine says it has reached a "common understanding on the core terms of the agreement" with the United States after the Geneva talks.
The most sensitive issues are left open pending a face-to-face meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump.
The most sensitive issues are left open pending a face-to-face meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump.
Big news: the European Court of Justice rules that all member states are obliged to recognise a same-sex marriage lawfully concluded in another member state.
November 25, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Big news: the European Court of Justice rules that all member states are obliged to recognise a same-sex marriage lawfully concluded in another member state.
Margrethe Vestager urges the EU to stand firm on digital regulation against US pressure.
"We have promised Europeans that their services would be safe to use for their mental health, for democracy, and that is, of course, at the core of any democracy that you stand by the promises made."
"We have promised Europeans that their services would be safe to use for their mental health, for democracy, and that is, of course, at the core of any democracy that you stand by the promises made."
EU must ‘stand by the promises made’ on digital rules, Vestager says
Former digital czar Vestager urges the EU to stand firm on its digital rules as US pushes for softer enforcement in exchange for tariff relief. "Defending rules vital for single market and European co...
www.euronews.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Margrethe Vestager urges the EU to stand firm on digital regulation against US pressure.
"We have promised Europeans that their services would be safe to use for their mental health, for democracy, and that is, of course, at the core of any democracy that you stand by the promises made."
"We have promised Europeans that their services would be safe to use for their mental health, for democracy, and that is, of course, at the core of any democracy that you stand by the promises made."
Marco Rubio has admitted that some issues in the peace plan to end Russia's war on Ukraine will require the participation and consent of Europe.
From NATO to sanctions, here are the issues that directly concern Europeans.
From NATO to sanctions, here are the issues that directly concern Europeans.
Ukraine peace talks: What's at stake for the Europeans?
Initially sidelined, Europeans want to muscle their way back to the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia by leveraging the key issues that can only be settled with their consent. But what are...
www.euronews.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Marco Rubio has admitted that some issues in the peace plan to end Russia's war on Ukraine will require the participation and consent of Europe.
From NATO to sanctions, here are the issues that directly concern Europeans.
From NATO to sanctions, here are the issues that directly concern Europeans.