Vladimir Putin warned EU leaders of “grave consequences” if Russia had been robbed of its frozen assets. On Friday (19 December), EU leaders struck a deal to give Ukraine a €90bn (£79bn) loan. The agreement was reached as an alternative to using €200bn (£185bn) of frozen Moscow funds. Speaking at his annual televised new conference hours after the announcement, Mr Putin said: “It's daylight robbery. Why can't this robbery be carried out? Because the consequences could be truly harsh for the robbers.” He said that the failure to use the assets will “subvert all confidence” in Europe’s image globally.

Complex plan would involve EU lending €90bn to Ukraine, which some fear could destabilise Eurozone. Putin says move is akin to ‘theft’

The leaders are to decide whether to loan tens of billions of euros in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's military and economic needs.