President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated the urgent need for European financial support to sustain Ukraine’s defense against Russian forces for an additional two to three years. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has heavily relied on military and financial assistance from international allies to repel the advancing Moscow army.
In statements released on Tuesday, Zelensky emphasized his discussions with various European leaders, stressing that Ukraine is not looking to engage in a prolonged conflict for decades. Instead, he called for a stable and reliable financial commitment from Europe during this critical period. “You must show that for some time you will be able to provide stable financial support to Ukraine,” he stated.
Referring to a proposed initiative, Zelensky noted that the European Union is considering utilizing frozen Russian assets as part of a financial package to support Ukraine. EU leaders recently tasked the European Commission with exploring funding options for the country over the next two years. This plan opens the possibility of a substantial loan amounting to tens of billions of euros, derived from assets that have been frozen in response to Russia’s aggression.
Zelensky articulated the dual nature of the funding’s purpose. He stated, “If the war ends in a month, we will spend this money on recovery. If it does not end in a month, but after some time, then we will spend it on weapons. We simply have no other choice.”
In a related context, Zelensky has called upon U.S. President Donald Trump to leverage his influence with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to reduce Beijing’s support for Russia during their impending meeting. “I think this may be one of (Trump’s) strong moves, especially if, following this decisive sanctions step, China is ready to reduce imports from Russia,” Zelensky noted during a press briefing attended by journalists, including representatives from AFP.
Trump recently imposed sanctions on two major Russian oil companies and has been actively encouraging nations reliant on Russian energy—particularly China and India—to decrease their purchases. This message aligns with the interests of both Washington and Kyiv, which assert that such exports are funding the ongoing invasion.
As the conflict enters its fourth year, Russia continues making advances along the front lines, although at significant cost. Zelensky acknowledged that Russian forces have established a presence in the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a strategic former rail hub that has been a target for Moscow over the past year. “Around 200 Russians are located there in various places – we see this from drones. Pokrovsk is currently the main target for the Russians,” he confirmed, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by Ukrainian forces.
