Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged European Union leaders to identify funding needed to sustain Ukraine’s military capabilities, asking for at least €70 billion (about $79 billion) in additional support next year. Speaking at the EU summit in Brussels on Friday, October 16, 2026, Zelenskyy said the war will cost Ukraine €155 billion next year. “This is a realistic amount. And I ask you to find this support. It will help us hold Russia back,” he told leaders.
President Zelenskyy said Ukraine urgently needs the funds for defence, weapons and resilience, particularly to produce more drones. He explained that Ukraine stops most Russian assaults on the front line thanks to drones and cuts Russian supply lines with the technology, but could produce two or three times more drones if funding was available. He also warned against easing sanctions on Russia and called for a strong 22nd sanctions package, criticizing a reported US-Russia diesel deal that he said would put more money into President Putin’s pocket to finance the war.
The appeal comes as the EU, Ukraine’s biggest backer, is currently paying out a €90 billion loan set to cover funding to the end of 2027, but Kyiv warns it still faces a major budget gap. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the EU would have to find more money to help Ukraine through the winter and next year, while the debate has reignited over tapping around €200 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets held in Europe to fund Ukraine. EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the financing gap further in December.
