**Ukraine Receives $970 Million from UK**
The Ukrainian government has received a significant boost in funding, thanks to the UK’s contribution under the G7 loan scheme. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that Ukraine had received 752 million pounds ($970 million) as part of the first installment of the loan.
**Loan Details**
The UK has pledged to lend Ukraine 2.26 billion pounds ($2.9 billion) in three equal installments, making it one of the largest contributors to the G7’s Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration scheme worth $50 billion. The funds will be used to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and aid in recovery efforts.
**Russian Assets Frozen**
The loan is part of a broader effort to immobilize Russian assets after the start of the full-scale war in 2022. The G7 countries had frozen around $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets, which will be used to fund the loan. The funds are expected to be repaid by proceeds from the frozen assets.
**Current Situation**
In a separate development, Russian forces have launched a large-scale aerial assault on Ukraine, firing 67 missiles and deploying 194 drones overnight. The attacks have killed at least two people and injured 24 others over the past day. Ukrainian forces have reportedly attacked the command post of the 17th Tank Regiment of the 70th Motorized Rifle Division in the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast, resulting in significant casualties.
**International Support**
The international community has continued to show its support for Ukraine. The European Union’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that Russia had launched missiles at various regions of Ukraine overnight, targeting energy and gas infrastructure. Twenty-six EU member states have denounced Russian aggression and pledged continued support for Ukraine in a joint resolution issued at an emergency summit.
**Ukraine’s Defense**
Kyiv has relied on high-resolution satellite images for defense and strategic planning, tracking Russian troop movements and assessing battlefield conditions. Ukrainian forces have also been using these images to monitor Russian infrastructure damage. The Council is working urgently on further initiatives to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defense needs, according to European Council President Antonio Costa.
**Other Developments**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Saudi Arabia on March 10 and meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before talks with U.S. partners. The U.K.’s contribution has been welcomed by Shmyhal, who said it would help strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
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