After Zelensky's plea: EU sends additional 65 billion to Ukraine

During Thursday, the EU granted nearly 6 billion euros, equivalent to about 65 billion Swedish kronor, in support to Ukraine. This was announced by the EU Commission on its website.

The amount consists of 4.1 billion euros in a so-called macro-financial support loan (MFA); and 1.8 billion in a support package where a large portion consists of grants.

With this disbursement, EU’s support to Ukraine now exceeds 2000 billion kronor since the Russian invasion in February 2022. In addition, there is military and financial support from other Western countries, not least the USA.

Zelensky appeals

The day before the EU Commission approves the latest aid package to the war-torn country, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is interviewed by the American business newspaper Bloomberg.

Zelenskyj courtship EU leaders. Photo: EU

In the interview, he says that Ukraine needs more money as soon as possible, and he expects the European Union to step up.

“We have to find other alternatives. It’s a question of our survival. That’s why we really need it. And I count on our partners,” he says.

The next day, the EU Commission approves another aid package.

But the 65 billion kronor that Ukraine now receives will not go very far. Not even together with the thousands of billions that the country has previously received.

In the Bloomberg interview, Zelensky says that he also hopes to soon access the Russian assets frozen by the EU. A loan equivalent to over 1,500 billion kronor is being considered, with the money being taken from the frozen assets.

Frozen Russian assets

The Russian funds that the EU’s leaders are eyeing are found not least at the securities depository Euroclear. But the Belgian company, as well as the country’s government, are resisting.

“There are at least as much in frozen assets in the rest of the world. It’s a bit frustrating that everyone is pointing at us,” says Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever to the Belgian newspaper HLN.

De Wever has so far blocked all agreements to use the Russian funds, as he fears that in the future it will be the Belgian taxpayers who will be forced to compensate Russia. He wants to be completely sure that there is a solid legal basis for seizing the funds.

“Moscow has already made it clear that we will feel the consequences for all time,” he says, referring to what will happen if the Russian securities are seized.

“It’s a very long time. So ensuring that we have a legal basis before doing anything is not a luxury.”

“No one forces them to die for some ruins”

At the same time as Zelensky hopes for more money from the EU, he admits that the war against Russia is going badly. He is open to completely giving up the hard-pressed city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.

“No one forces them to die for some ruins,” Zelensky tells Bloomberg, leaving it to his commanders to decide how the war should be conducted.

The Ukrainian president’s analysis of the situation is that Russia wants Ukraine to give up the rest of the Donetsk oblast, including the cities of Kramatorsk and Slovjansk, and then is ready to end the war.

Conquering Pokrovsk has therefore become important for Russian President Vladimir Putin, to show his American counterpart Donald Trump that Ukraine cannot win the war. That the only possibility is to accept the Russian demands. Demands that Zelensky does not want to accept.

“We cannot leave eastern Ukraine. No one will understand it. People will not understand it,” says Volodymyr Zelensky.

“And most importantly, no one can guarantee us that if they get this or that city, they will not continue afterwards. We have no deterrent.”