EU leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine at a summit in Brussels on Oct. 15-16, urging all countries to halt assistance to Russia’s war effort and calling for a ceasefire and peace talks, according to the European Council’s conclusions .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the 27 EU leaders on Friday, requesting an additional €70 billion in financial and military support for 2027. The bloc committed to exploring options to cover the shortfall, with European Council President António Costa tasking the European Commission to prepare a concrete proposal .
Tensions with the U.S. loomed over the summit after Trump’s reported diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the temporary disruption of Starlink services, which Zelenskyy said hindered Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian drone attacks. Zelenskyy told reporters EU leaders had expressed only support for Ukraine and that he expected a meeting with U.S. officials to ease strains .
Trump has criticized Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries and demanded new elections in Kyiv, telling Newsmax that Zelenskyy was “more difficult to deal with than Putin” .
