EU to give 18 bln euros to Kyiv next year to help run Ukraine - Reuters

BRUSSELS, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The European Union volition springiness Kyiv 1.5 cardinal euros a period successful 2023 to assistance tally Ukraine arsenic it fights backmost Russia's invading troops, the caput of the bloc's enforcement said connected Friday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke aft the 27 nationalist EU leaders discussed supporting Ukraine during a 2nd time of their acme successful Brussels connected Friday, the 240th time of Russia's warfare connected its neighbour.

She said that the EU has truthful acold fixed Ukraine 19 cardinal euros this twelvemonth but that the acme looked astatine 2023.

"It is precise important for Ukraine to person a predictable and unchangeable travel of income," she said, adding that Kyiv estimated its monthly needs astatine 3-4 cardinal euros "for the basics".

Sporting a lapel pin successful Ukraine's yellowish and blue, von der Leyen told a quality league the EU would concern 1.5 cardinal euros per period of that, with the remainder expected to travel from the United States and planetary institutions.

"That volition springiness a full of 18 cardinal for the adjacent twelvemonth - an magnitude Ukraine tin number connected and wherever determination is simply a unchangeable and reliable, predictable travel of income."

"PURE TERRORISM"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the EU leaders via a video nexus the time earlier, saying Russian missiles and Iranian drones person damaged a 3rd of Ukraine's vigor infrastructure arsenic wintertime approaches.

"Russia besides provokes a caller question of migration of Ukrainians to EU countries," Zelenskiy said.

"Russian panic against our vigor facilities is aimed astatine creating arsenic galore problems arsenic imaginable with energy and vigor for Ukraine this autumn and wintertime truthful that arsenic galore Ukrainians arsenic imaginable determination to your countries."

Von der Leyen said the EU was besides looking astatine however to assistance Ukraine re-establish water, powerfulness and energy supplies.

Zelenskiy asked the EU for aerial and rocket defence systems, arsenic good arsenic "new powerful" sanctions connected Russia arsenic good arsenic connected Iran for supplying drones for usage successful Moscow's war.

The bloc has already imposed constricted sanctions connected Iran implicit that, but EU subordinate states are divided implicit slapping immoderate much sanctions connected Russia now.

Poland and the 3 Baltic states projected banning Russian diamond imports from Russia and phasing retired alloy commercialized much quickly, but Belgium and Italy are among those opposed to these steps.

Hungary is against sanctioning Russia successful general, portion Germany and France person said existent measures already spell far.

Zelenskiy urged the West to warn Russia not to stroke up a immense dam that could flood ample areas of confederate Ukraine, and helium appealed for much assistance pledges to beryllium made astatine an planetary league successful Berlin adjacent Tuesday dedicated to Ukraine's reconstruction.

The summit's chairman, European Council President Charles Michel, said the EU was looking astatine utilizing Russian assets frozen nether sanctions against Moscow towards rebuilding Ukraine.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that amounted to immoderate 300 cardinal euros, though Berlin and others person warned that really seizing the assets mightiness beryllium illegal.

Kallas besides sided with Lithuania successful pushing for a peculiar planetary tribunal to beryllium acceptable up to justice imaginable warfare crimes committed successful Ukraine, thing the Netherlands has voiced caution about.

"This is axenic terrorism," Kallas said of Russia's war.

Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by John Chalmers and Hugh Lawson

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