For the Brazilian President, signing the Mercosur-EU deal is 'now or never'

18/12/2025 15:33 France 24

As Europe hesitates over the Mercosur agreement, Brazilian President Lula has shown signs of frustration with a deal '37 years in the making'. He warned it was 'now or never' to sign, saying there would be no further opportunities during his term in office. FRANCE 24's Tom Vickery has the details from Rio.

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BREAKING NEWS

18/12 17:20 - Trump administration unveils actions aimed at eliminating gender-affirming care for minors 18/12 17:17 - Ukraine may need to cut drone production if no deal reached on frozen Russian assets, says Zelenskyy – Europe live 18/12 17:17 - Over 1,000 Were Killed in Attack on Camp in Darfur, Sudan, U.N. Says 18/12 17:03 - US sanctions more ICC judges, citing ruling on Israeli war crime probe 18/12 17:03 - US sanctions more ICC judges, citing ruling on Israeli war crime probe 18/12 16:46 - Zelensky gives stark warning as EU leaders decide on Russia's frozen assets 18/12 16:42 - Egypt says gas deal with Israel is ‘purely commercial’ 18/12 16:42 - Egypt says gas deal with Israel is ‘purely commercial’ 18/12 16:35 - Zelensky Appeals to E.U. Leaders for Frozen Russian Funds to Fight War 18/12 16:27 - Europe’s Fight Over Russian Assets Is Testing Its Ability to Support Ukraine 18/12 16:20 - U.S. Inflation Slowed to 2.7% in November as Shutdown Distorts Data 18/12 16:09 - Ukraine: Kharkiv tries to give its youngest a normal life 18/12 16:00 - Are Trump, the Gulf states and Russia meddling in Italy's top newspapers change of ownership? 18/12 15:52 - White House says US would be ‘lucky’ if Trump stayed for third term 18/12 15:51 - A divided E.U. races against time to tap Russian assets for Ukraine 18/12 15:37 - ‘Ukraine needs this money’ : Zelensky is in Brussels for talks on Russian assets 18/12 15:33 - For the Brazilian President, signing the Mercosur-EU deal is 'now or never' 18/12 15:31 - EU leaders urge swift decision on frozen Russian funds for Ukraine 18/12 15:27 - Beijing’s reaction to US-Taiwan arms deal is “information warfare” 18/12 15:27 - Beijing’s reaction to US-Taiwan arms deal is “information warfare” 18/12 15:18 - EU summit on knife-edge over plan to fund Ukraine using Russian assets 18/12 15:18 - EU summit on knife-edge over plan to fund Ukraine using Russian assets 18/12 14:51 - EU debates use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine 18/12 14:51 - EU debates use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine 18/12 14:47 - ‘Why isn’t everyone talking about Domhnall Gleeson?’ Irish actor wins first Hollywood award 18/12 14:00 - Social media companies allow antisemitic hate to flow ‘unchecked’, Australia’s race commissioner says 18/12 14:00 - Peak Jewish body calls Labor’s plan to combat antisemitism an essential ‘first step’ but some warn it risks division 18/12 13:33 - EU kicks off crunch summit on Russian asset plan for Ukraine 18/12 13:25 - EU-Mercosur deal hangs in balance amid farmer concerns 18/12 13:18 - EU leaders split over using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine 18/12 13:17 - Life sentence sought for ex-Russian billionaire 18/12 13:10 - Guests from Kharkiv City: Rebuilding Life in Rural Ukraine 18/12 13:10 - Guests from Kharkiv City: Rebuilding Life in Rural Ukraine 18/12 12:51 - EU pushing ‘Buy European’ rule for arming Ukraine – Bloomberg 18/12 12:50 - Briton who fought in Ukraine jailed for 13 years by Russia 18/12 12:50 - News24 | China warns US to ‘stop the dangerous actions of arming Taiwan’ amid $11bn weapons deal 18/12 12:45 - Farmers protest Mercosur deal in Brussels 18/12 12:33 - Labour warned plan to jail fewer offenders undermines strategy to protect women and girls - UK politics live 18/12 12:17 - Bearing witness to Sudan war 18/12 12:17 - Bearing witness to Sudan war 18/12 12:00 - ‘We wanted to take action’: US toy company fights back over Trump tariffs 18/12 11:41 - The Putin Confidant Who Pushed Back Against Russia’s War in Ukraine 18/12 11:35 - A British man who fought for Ukraine is jailed for 13 years by Russia 18/12 11:27 - Starmer faces rebellion over plan to cut jury trials 18/12 10:12 - Drone strike plunges Sudan major cities into darkness as civil war rages 18/12 10:12 - Drone strike plunges Sudan major cities into darkness as civil war rages 18/12 09:06 - EU leaders meet to stall or steal Russian assets for Ukraine: Live Updates 18/12 08:25 - Russian delegation to visit US for Ukraine peace talks – media 18/12 08:21 - Either way the EU loses: Why ignoring the US on Russian assets will be the bloc’s undoing 18/12 07:35 - Notes of support posted on Jewish bakery that announced its closure in wake of shooting – as it happened 18/12 07:17 - Russia-Ukraine war live: EU holds key summit to strengthen Kyiv’s hand 18/12 07:17 - Russia-Ukraine war live: EU holds key summit to strengthen Kyiv’s hand 18/12 07:17 - Ukraine drones kill 3 in Russia’s Rostov as EU debates war funding for Kyiv 18/12 07:17 - Ukraine drones kill 3 in Russia’s Rostov as EU debates war funding for Kyiv 18/12 06:52 - Thursday briefing: How pay erosion and job shortages pushed doctors to strike again amid winter flu surge 18/12 06:34 - Sam Worthington And Stephen Lang Get Honest About Grief, War, And Masculinity In Avatar: Fire & Ash 18/12 06:22 - Live: Zelensky says Ukraine needs a decision on Russian assets by end of year 18/12 05:49 - The Papers: 'Abramovich clings on to $2.5bn' and 'Ban doctors strike' 18/12 05:42 - ‘Protests had nothing to do with the attacks’: activists condemn premier’s plan to restrict rallies after Bondi shooting 18/12 05:00 - EU leaders urged to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defence 18/12 04:38 - Peter Arnett, Pulitzer-Winning War Correspondent, Dies at 91 18/12 03:02 - Peter Arnett, Pulitzer prize-winner who reported on Vietnam and Gulf wars, dies aged 91 18/12 01:36 - Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,393 18/12 01:36 - Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,393 18/12 00:00 - In this secret missile factory, Ukraine is ramping up its domestic arms industry 18/12 00:00 - Washington state flooding damage profound but unclear, governor warns 17/12 23:26 - US Congress ends Assad-era Syria sanctions, opening door to investment 17/12 22:53 - Winter storms worsen Gaza humanitarian crisis as UN says aid still blocked 17/12 22:53 - Winter storms worsen Gaza humanitarian crisis as UN says aid still blocked 17/12 22:25 - Trump could declare war on Venezuela – Tucker Carlson 17/12 22:20 - Who will save Afghans from hunger? 17/12 22:20 - Who will save Afghans from hunger? 17/12 22:08 - Majority of Belgians oppose theft of Russian assets – poll 17/12 22:00 - Cut green spending to make UK ready for war, Tories say 17/12 21:59 - US 'pressuring' EU not to use frozen Russian assets for Kyiv, Ukraine official says 17/12 21:10 - British soldier killed in Ukraine told family to 'be proud' in letter 17/12 21:07 - Putin is waiting to take advantage if today's crucial Ukraine meeting ends in failure 17/12 21:04 - Russian assets not up for grabs – Orban 17/12 20:45 - Met police and GMP pledge crackdown on ‘intifada’ chants at Gaza war protests 17/12 20:45 - Heavy rains worsen conditions for displaced Gazans, UN warns 17/12 19:53 - Oscars to stream exclusively on YouTube in 2029, leaving longtime home ABC 17/12 19:42 - MPs warn that UK agreements with Donald Trump are ‘built on sand’ 17/12 19:30 - Assange brings ‘instrument of war’ case against Nobel Foundation 17/12 18:31 - UK warns Abramovich to give Chelsea sale cash to Ukraine or face court 17/12 18:31 - UK warns Abramovich to give Chelsea sale cash to Ukraine or face court 17/12 18:26 - Putin calls European leaders ‘little pigs’ and says Russia will achieve Ukraine goals by diplomacy or force - as it happened 17/12 17:53 - Abramovich must pay £2.5bn from Chelsea FC sale to Ukraine fund or face court, Starmer says 17/12 17:44 - Merz warns of direct NATO-Russia conflict 17/12 17:37 - Belgian politicians and finance bosses targeted by Russian intelligence over seized assets 17/12 17:23 - Rare pink fog blankets parts of UK with warning issued over poor visibility 17/12 16:59 - Trump administration to dismantle key climate research center in Colorado 17/12 16:49 - Is Trump about to wage war in Latin America? 17/12 16:49 - Is Trump about to wage war in Latin America? 17/12 16:38 - Trump orders blockade of 'sanctioned oil tankers' into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on Maduro 17/12 16:33 - Warner Bros. Urges Shareholders to Reject Paramount Takeover Bid, Saying Ellisons ‘Misled’ Them 17/12 16:01 - Winter storms cause war-damaged buildings to collapse in Gaza 17/12 16:01 - Winter storms cause war-damaged buildings to collapse in Gaza 17/12 15:17 - What is the row about the EU using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine? 17/12 15:07 - Canadian intelligence officer charged with spying for Ukraine – media 17/12 14:52 - UK gives Abramovich final warning to transfer £2.5bn to Ukraine fund