{"text":[[{"start":10.34,"text":"The EU has offered to use part of a proposed €140bn loan backed by Russia’s frozen assets to buy US weapons for Ukraine, provided Washington keeps supporting Kyiv in defending itself against Russia."}],[{"start":27.63,"text":"The proposal, made to EU ambassadors on Friday, comes as European allies were blindsided by US President Donald Trump agreeing to meet his Russian counterpart in Hungary in a bid to end the war in Ukraine."}],[{"start":44.32,"text":"After his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump floated the prospect of resumed trade between the US and Russia if the war ended and suggested he was no longer planning to sell long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv."}],[{"start":61.06,"text":"The European Commission plans to use Russian central bank assets that were immobilised at Belgium’s central securities depository Euroclear, in response to the war, to fund a €140bn “reparations loan” for Ukraine."}],[{"start":78.3,"text":"The largest part of this loan would be used to procure weapons, according to a commission paper detailing the loan’s design that was seen by the Financial Times, as well as to support Ukraine and Europe’s defence industries."}],[{"start":94.55,"text":"While a preference for European weapons was introduced at France’s request, the commission added that “co-operation . . . could be envisaged with international partners that commit to provide substantial additional support” to Ukraine."}],[{"start":110.14999999999999,"text":"The proposal is seeking to leverage substantial weapons procurement contracts to keep the US on side, diplomats and EU officials said. Trump in recent months has pivoted to allow more US weapons to be sold to Ukraine, provided that Europe and other allies pay for them."}],[{"start":131.64999999999998,"text":"The commission also called on G7 allies and other countries to “step up their support for Ukraine alongside the EU”, according to the paper."}],[{"start":142.64999999999998,"text":"This could involve replicating the EU’s “reparations loan” by mobilising assets frozen in their jurisdictions — something that the UK and Canada have indicated they are willing to do — as well as “provide additional support”."}],[{"start":168.73999999999998,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1760927611_3573.mp3"}