The president of Ukraine asked European leaders to provide 70 billion euros in additional financial aid for next year in order to continue confronting Russia.
On Friday, 16 October 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his speech at the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels: “The cost of the war will reach 155 billion euros next year, and we need at least another 70 billion euros from you for defense, weapons purchases and strengthening our resilience (equivalent to 79 billion dollars).”
According to the text of his speech published on the social network “X,” the Ukrainian president said: “This is a real amount, and I ask you to provide us with this support, which will help us confront Russia.” European leaders, meanwhile, indicate that Ukraine’s financial and military support for this year is guaranteed, but that for the year (2027) it has not yet been fully secured.
The European Union had previously allocated a loan of (90) billion euros to Ukraine for both 2026 and 2027, of which 45 billion is for next year; however, this amount is insufficient, and European countries are seeking new sources. In this context, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had announced on Thursday, before the summit began: “We need to increase financial support once again so that we can support Ukraine consistently and effectively.”
