THE European Union pledged today to lend Ukraine up to €35 billion (£29bn) as part of a loan package organised by the Group of Seven rich countries to help the country repair and reconnect its war-shattered power grid.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev: “You will decide how best to use your funds.”

The Ukrainian leader said that his priorities are to rebuild the energy network, build more bomb shelters, improve schools and buy more weapons.