BRUSSELS, Belgium: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came to Brussels with a blunt request for European Union leaders, pressing them Friday to open their wallets for an additional €70 billion as the war grinds toward its fourth year.
The appeal arrives at a pivotal moment. Western capitals face mounting budget pressures, while Ukraine’s financing gap widens between what partners have pledged and what Kyiv actually needs to keep fighting and functioning.
Zelensky laid out the math to assembled EU leaders. The conflict will consume roughly €155 billion ($174.3 billion) in 2026 alone. Of that, Ukraine requires at least €70 billion from European allies for defense systems, weaponry, and economic resilience, he said.
“This is a realistic amount,” Zelensky told the summit. “I ask you to find this support.”
The request underscores a persistent shortfall. Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko revealed last month the country faces a $32.6 billion hole in economic assistance and a $45 billion gap in defense funding. Those numbers barely align with battlefield demands.
Meanwhile, Brussels has already structured a €90 billion loan facility for Ukraine covering 2026 and 2027. European officials continue pressing other international donors to increase their commitments.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signaled Thursday that Europe must boost its financial backing before the leaders convened. His remarks set the stage for Friday’s difficult conversation inside the summit hall.
Zelensky’s plea now forces a reckoning. EU budgets face competing domestic priorities, rising energy costs, and voter fatigue over prolonged aid packages. Yet Kyiv frames the request as existential, not optional.
Whether the bloc can deliver remains unanswered. The next tranche of negotiations will hinge on which member states step forward, how quickly funds materialize, and whether Washington maintains its own contribution levels.
