EU Says It Will Keep Backing Ukraine as Zelenskyy Asks for $79bn More
Al Jazeera Staff
EU leaders vowed to keep supporting Ukraine and maintain sanctions on Russia as President Zelenskyy pressed for an extra 70 billion euros ($79bn) in funding for next year. The appeal came as US-Ukraine tensions deepened and Russian strikes killed three people in Kharkiv and cut power to hundreds of thousands.
European Union leaders called for continued support for Ukraine as a deepening rift between Washington and Kyiv raised fears that Ukraine could be left more exposed to Russian attacks as winter approaches.
On the second and final day of the EU summit in Brussels, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, senior EU officials stressed on Friday the need to keep supplying weapons to Ukraine and to maintain sanctions on Russia.
“This is not the time to withdraw support for Ukraine,” European Council President Antonio Costa said, standing beside the Ukrainian leader. “This is not the time to ease sanctions on Russia. Now is the time to step up support and increase pressure.”
The EU welcomed Zelenskyy at one of the most difficult moments for Ukraine, four and a half years after its neighbour Russia launched its military campaign.
Russian missile and drone attacks hit Ukrainian cities daily, and deteriorating relations between Kyiv and Washington have fuelled concerns that the United States could scale back intelligence sharing and vital weapons support.
Arriving at the summit, Zelenskyy thanked EU leaders for their support and appeared to emphasise the point by calling them “real leaders”.
The remark seemed to be a reference to US President Donald Trump, who surprised the Ukrainian leader last weekend by saying Kyiv and Moscow had agreed not to target each other's energy facilities.
Zelenskyy abandoned the deal on Thursday, citing Russia's failure to honour it, a move Trump called “a disgrace”.
Trump also angered Ukraine by suspending sanctions on Russian oil products and striking a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow to supply large volumes of diesel to global markets.
“This diesel deal will never be enough to offset the impact of the Strait of Hormuz on global markets,” Zelenskyy said on the sidelines of the summit. “But it will put more money directly into Putin's pocket to fund this war.”
He also accused the Russian leader of having no real interest in peace talks.
“Putin does not want peace negotiations in any form right now,” Zelenskyy said. “He is playing with words… It is simply like a parody of a real desire to end the war.”
Zelenskyy asks EU for $79bn in support
Preparing for expected winter attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, Zelenskyy asked EU leaders for an additional 70 billion euros ($79bn) in funding next year to sustain the fight against Russia.
“The war will cost 155 billion euros ($174bn) next year. And we need at least 70 billion euros more from you – for our defence, weapons and resilience,” the Ukrainian leader said.
“This is a realistic figure. And I ask you to find the sources of this support. It will help us hold Russia back.”
Al Jazeera correspondent Rosie Birchard, reporting from the summit in Brussels, said Zelenskyy made an “emotional appeal” for European support, with air defence systems at the top of his “wish list”.
According to Birchard, Zelenskyy urged European countries to draw on their own stockpiles to help meet Ukraine's needs during the cold winter months. “But of course, that means some European countries may have to sacrifice part of their own national security.”
“We stand with you”
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told Reuters that the EU would likely have to provide a new loan to Ukraine to help fill its budget gap next year.
“Last winter was hell, this winter will be like hell again,” Michal said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged that the EU would keep supporting Ukraine through the winter.
“Russia is trying everything to destroy energy and water infrastructure. But we stand with you. We will support you as we did in previous winters,” she said.
Austria, however, called for caution in the discussion of broad new financial commitments to Ukraine.
“There are so many figures being thrown around that we need to put them in context, explain and clarify where this shortfall comes from,” Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said.
Al Jazeera's Birchard said Europe's overall solidarity with Zelenskyy contrasted sharply with recent messages from Washington. “He is, at least, once again among friends,” she said.
However, Birchard said some European officials were reportedly quietly urging Zelenskyy to “tone down” his public criticism of Trump, fearing it could put Europeans in a difficult position.
“Of course, they (European officials) want to show that they are close to Ukraine, that they support Zelenskyy, but they also do not want to anger the US,” she said.
Friday's summit took place as Russian air strikes killed three people in Kharkiv and left hundreds of thousands of people in Ukraine without power.
The Kremlin said last week that Ukraine had undermined the prospect of an immediate resumption of peace talks after attacking Moscow with drones during last month's election.
