Zelensky asks for more money from European leaders now that US support falters

BrusselsVolodymyr Zelenskyy wants Brussels to take a step forward in aid for the war, now that support from the United States is faltering. After Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel, the Ukrainian president asked European partners to contribute to the war effort with another 70 billion euros to be able to "contain Russia".

The Ukrainian leader met this Friday with his European counterparts behind closed doors to talk about EU aid for the coming winter and presented them with his calculations. He estimates that the war will cost 155 billion euros next year, and for this reason, he has asked for an extraordinary effort from European allies. He assured that Kyiv could produce two to three times more drones than it currently produces, but that they need more money to manufacture them. "Imagine the pressure we could exert [...] on Russia," he suggested.

At this moment, financial and military support for Ukraine is guaranteed for 2026, but not entirely for next year. The EU's 90 billion euro loan to Kyiv is 90 billion, of which 45 billion is for 2026 and the other 45 billion for 2027. Now Kyiv considers that this sum will be insufficient, and Europeans are already looking for new ways to help them. "We will have to increase funding again to really support Ukraine in a sustainable way," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared on Thursday before the start of the leaders' summit.

Washington's shift and the change in tone from President Trump, who has lashed out at Zelenskyy for having resumed attacks against Russian refineries, have loomed over the meeting. Throughout the day, interventions regarding the American president have been repeated, in a more or less explicit manner. Upon arriving, Zelenskyy, accompanied by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and by the President of the European Council, António Costa, thanked the European leaders for their help, who – he said in a clear rebuke to Trump – "are true leaders".

Zelenskyy recalled that he was unaware of the agreement between Trump and Putin to lift the sanctions and assured that it was "a surprise to everyone". The Ukrainian president avoided answering most of the questions about his relationship with Trump, but when asked if he was a scapegoat for the American president, Zelenskyy simply laughed. "This is my answer," he stated.

For their part, European leaders have shown their support both for the action of attacking refineries again and for the need to increase funding, although they have not specified any figures on this last issue. "It is not the time to ease sanctions on Russia," said the President of the European Council, António Costa, who claimed that what is needed now is to increase pressure "to ensure that Russia accepts a real ceasefire" and stops this war.

"A dangerous and unpleasant surprise"

Zelensky has shown annoyance with the United States' change in strategy and has lamented that ballistic missiles are not reaching them. But, above all, he has focused on explaining the serious implications for Ukraine's security caused by the slowing down of Starlink satellites, which he described as a "dangerous and unpleasant surprise." Kyiv, he asserts, was using this technology primarily to intercept missiles, to launch medium-range attacks, and to send humanitarian aid to regions occupied by Russia. Now, he claims, "the speed limits are lower," which prevents them from protecting themselves from attacks that are "killing civilians."

This issue is of particular concern to Ukraine, as it is a technology that the European Union is currently unable to replace. The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, has admitted that "in the short term" Brussels is incapable of developing any similar technology. An option she has called to explore is the European Defence Agency, which has "mapped the critical capabilities and the efforts we are lacking," she said.