Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his online address to the leaders of the European Union, stated that negotiations with the Russian Federation regarding the end of the war may resume soon. According to him, in recent days Ukraine has received signals from the United States about the possibility of renewing dialogue, but it is unclear what intentions Russia will have in these negotiations.
This is reported by Kyiv24
The Impact of EU Financial Decisions on Ukraine’s Security
Zelensky emphasized the importance of support from the European Union, particularly the provision of a €90 billion loan, which has been blocked for the third month. The President stressed that this financial aid package is critical for protecting the lives of Ukrainians and ensuring the country’s security, as well as for preparing for the upcoming winter and settling military contracts.
“For the third month now, the most important financial security guarantee for Ukraine from Europe – the support package of €90 billion for this and next year – has not been operational. This is critical for us. It is a resource for saving lives… Even today, we do not know for sure whether this support will be unblocked,” noted the President of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader pointed out that the feeling of an advantage in negotiations for Russia can be created not only by military factors but also by delays in EU financial support and the easing of US sanctions on Russian oil. He also mentioned the blockage of the twentieth EU sanctions package and the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, which has led to Ukraine expending air defense missiles and an increase in global oil prices.
Key Challenges and European Responsibility
Zelensky called on the European Union to provide Ukraine with a multibillion-euro loan, explaining that the Ukrainian side is meeting all necessary conditions, including those related to the Druzhba oil pipeline. He emphasized that the decision to supply Russian oil to Europe should remain the responsibility of European leaders, as such supplies support the aggressor.
The President added that at least €5 billion of the planned financial assistance will be directed specifically towards Ukraine’s energy resilience. A significant portion of the funds is also needed to pay contracts with European arms manufacturers, which will help preserve jobs and technological development within Europe itself.
Despite Ukraine’s appeals, during the summit on March 19, EU leaders were unable to definitively approve the multibillion-euro loan due to the position of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who did not support the decision. In addition to Hungary, Slovakia joined the group of states that did not sign the declaration in support of Ukraine since December of last year. The discussion of the Ukrainian issue at the summit has concluded, and the approved conclusions regarding Ukraine have been published on the European Council’s website.