Funding Ukraine with a reparations loan based on immobilised Russian assets would be the most "effective" of three options being considered by the European Union to help Kyiv, the head of the bloc's executive Commission said on Thursday.

BRUSSELS: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen insisted on Thursday (Nov 13) that using frozen Russian assets to fund a new loan was the "most effective way" to finance Ukraine, as she laid out other options after opposition from Belgium.

The European Union on Friday made it harder for Russian citizens to enter Europe’s ID-check free travel area due to Russia’s continued war on Ukraine, increasing acts of sabotage blamed on Moscow and the potential misuse of visas.

The European Union's development bank has provided an additional $147-million grant to Ukraine’s state energy firm Naftogaz to secure natural gas supply following intensified Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure.

In a statement the EIB, the EU's lending arm, said an EU grant would provide 127 million euros ($127 million) of additional funding to Naftogaz on top of a 300 billion euro loan it outlined last month.

Soccer players from France and Ukraine joined supporters in a minute’s silence before their match to end a poignant day of commemorations across the city for victims of the Paris terror attacks 10 years ago.

BRUSSELS - European Union finance ministers agreed on Thursday that funding Ukraine with a reparations loan based on immobilised Russian assets would be the most \"effective\" of three options being considered by the European Union to help Kyiv.

Canada and the United Kingdom are ready to follow the European Union’s example and provide Ukraine with reparations loans, using frozen Russian assets. Japan could also participate in this initiative,