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| EU agrees 1.8bn-euro loan to cash-strapped Ukraine | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The EU has agreed a €1.8bn (£1.3bn; $2bn) loan to Ukraine - the largest financial deal with a non-EU member. | The EU has agreed a €1.8bn (£1.3bn; $2bn) loan to Ukraine - the largest financial deal with a non-EU member. |
| The agreement was signed at an EU summit in Riga, Latvia, which brings together the leaders of the 28-member bloc and six post-Soviet nations. | The agreement was signed at an EU summit in Riga, Latvia, which brings together the leaders of the 28-member bloc and six post-Soviet nations. |
| The loan aims to help revive the cash-strapped economy of Ukraine, which has also been badly affected by fighting with pro-Russian rebels in the east. | The loan aims to help revive the cash-strapped economy of Ukraine, which has also been badly affected by fighting with pro-Russian rebels in the east. |
| It requires Ukraine to adopt reforms, including anti-corruption measures. | It requires Ukraine to adopt reforms, including anti-corruption measures. |
| In other developments on Friday: | |
| €200m grants | |
| In Riga, the EU also pledged €200m grants to Ukraine and the other five "Eastern Partnership" members: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Moldova. | In Riga, the EU also pledged €200m grants to Ukraine and the other five "Eastern Partnership" members: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Moldova. |
| The decision by the previous Ukrainian government in 2013 to scrap a deal on closer ties with the EU sparked protests that toppled President Viktor Yanukovych and led to the confrontation in the east. | |
| Ukraine's economy continued its contraction in the first quarter of 2015, and Kiev faces huge bills to the country's international creditors in the coming months. | Ukraine's economy continued its contraction in the first quarter of 2015, and Kiev faces huge bills to the country's international creditors in the coming months. |
| More than 6,000 people have been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine that began in April 2014 when rebels seized large parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | More than 6,000 people have been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine that began in April 2014 when rebels seized large parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
| This followed Russia's annexation of the southern Crimea peninsula. | This followed Russia's annexation of the southern Crimea peninsula. |
| The Ukrainian government, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia is helping the rebels with heavy weapons and soldiers. Independent experts echo that accusation. | The Ukrainian government, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia is helping the rebels with heavy weapons and soldiers. Independent experts echo that accusation. |
| Moscow denies it, insisting that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers". | Moscow denies it, insisting that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers". |