Zelensky asks the European Union for an additional 70 billion euros to confront Russia

Listen to the article. The audio text is automated, generated by an automated system

On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked European Union leaders to secure additional funding for Kiev next year worth 70 billion euros ($79 billion), to help it continue the fight against Russia.

Zelensky said in a speech during an EU summit in Brussels, "The cost of the war will reach 155 billion euros next year. We need at least 70 billion additional euros from you, for defense, weapons and for our steadfastness. This is a realistic amount, and I ask you to provide this support."

European Union leaders lined up behind Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a summit held on Friday, at a time when US President Donald Trump directed new criticism at Ukraine, describing its attacks on Russian refineries as a "shameful matter."

The European Union is hosting Zelensky in Brussels at one of the most difficult stages facing Ukraine, with missiles and drones continuing to fall on Ukrainian cities and fears mounting about the possibility of the United States backing down from exchanging intelligence information and providing weapons to Kiev.

Trump surprised Zelensky last week by announcing that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to target each other's energy facilities.

With the US midterm elections approaching in November, Trump blamed the Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries for the rise in energy prices, a rise that could cost him a heavy political price at the ballot box.

The United States concluded a diesel agreement with Russia, which angered Kiev and its European allies. Zelensky said upon his arrival at the summit, where he was warmly received and hugs by many leaders, "We want to end this war as quickly as possible. We do not currently see signs from the Russian side indicating its willingness to end this war. That is why we must prepare for the winter."

He added, "The winter package is not only related to energy, but also includes air defense and financing."

In the most recent attacks, Russian drone strikes on the city of Kharkiv resulted in the deaths of three people, while attacks in other areas caused hundreds of thousands to lose power.

Ukraine targeted a Russian oil refinery after Zelensky announced that Kiev was no longer committed to the energy truce announced by Trump.

“All it does is raise global oil prices,” Trump said in an interview with the Newsmax media network. “And I think that’s a shame.”

Zelensky told Reuters earlier this month that Ukraine had agreed with its European partners on a plan that would allow it to close a $27 billion deficit in military spending this year, enabling it to order the drones needed to continue fighting in early 2027.

But Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko recently said that Ukraine still faces a funding gap in its budget for next year of $32.6 billion, not including an estimated $40 billion in direct military supplies from allies.