The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, plans to personally participate in the European Council meeting scheduled for December 18 in Brussels. According to preliminary information, he will hold a press conference at 14:15 Kyiv time, although the start time may be adjusted.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Main Topics of the Summit: Ukraine and European Security
Earlier, it was reported by the Euro Council that the participation of the President of Ukraine was initially planned in an online format, but the format has been changed to in-person attendance. The President of the European Council, António Costa, emphasized in his invitation letter to the leaders of EU countries that the meeting on December 18 will focus on two key issues: the situation in Ukraine and security on the continent, as well as the consideration of EU funding for 2028-2034.
“We will begin the European Council meeting by discussing the issue of Ukraine. Recent events highlight the urgent need for EU action. At the October European Council meeting, we committed to addressing Ukraine’s urgent financial needs for 2026-2027, particularly for its military and defense efforts. At our next meeting, we need to determine, based on the current preparatory work, how to fulfill this commitment. At the time of writing this letter, diplomatic efforts are ongoing to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. In this context, we will discuss how best to continue protecting Europe’s interests and how to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position,” the letter stated.
António Costa emphasized that an important component of this process should be increasing pressure on Russia.
Financial Support for Ukraine and Reparations Issues
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, noted that the coming days will be crucial for supporting Ukraine. Speaking in Strasbourg on December 17, she highlighted Ukraine’s need for funding for 2026-2027, which the European Commission and the IMF have estimated at 137 billion euros. Of this amount, the EU is expected to cover two-thirds. However, she stated that it is not just about numbers but also about strengthening Ukraine’s capacity to achieve true peace.
She also emphasized that providing Ukraine with a “reparations loan” is a priority for the EU, reminding that member countries have decided to keep Russian assets frozen indefinitely. In recent weeks, discussions have been ongoing in Europe regarding the possibility of providing Kyiv with a “reparations loan” of 140 billion euros backed by Russian assets. Belgium opposes this, as most of these funds are under its jurisdiction, and the country’s authorities fear potential legal claims from Russia.
Russia categorically denies any attempts to confiscate its assets and calls the potential use of these funds for the benefit of Ukraine “theft.”