# Zelensky Calls for EU Unity and More Aid

> Zelensky demands EU unity, increased military funding, and stronger sanctions on Russia before critical summit.
- Title: Zelensky Calls for EU Unity and More Aid · EUobserver
- Summary: Zelensky demands EU unity, increased military funding, and stronger sanctions on Russia before critical summit. Zelensky urges EU leaders to provide more…
- Keywords: zelensky, ukraine, russia, sanctions, military funding, eu summit, politics, world, Calls, Unity, More, Aid
- Source: EUobserver — https://euobserver.com/242983/zelensky-urges-unity-more-money-for-ukraine-and-sanctions-on-russia-ahead-of-key-summit-with-eu-leaders
- Published: 2026-10-15T16:47:27+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: zelensky, eu, ukraine, russia, sanctions, military funding, eu summit, politics, world
## Zelensky's Requests
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels with two main requests for his meeting with EU leaders on Friday (16 October): more funds for Kyiv for defense and more sanctions against Russia.

> All of us in Europe want this war to end. And for that to happen, strong signals are needed, more real pressure on Russia and more defense support for Ukraine.
## Trump-Putin Diesel Deal
Zelensky’s plea comes days after US president Donald Trump announced a deal to bring Russian diesel to the US and global markets, raising questions about Western efforts to restrict Russia’s energy revenues.
## EU Leaders' Response
EU leaders are expected to 'regret' the Trump-Putin deal in their summit conclusions, where they also mention more financial, humanitarian and diplomatic support to Kyiv ahead of what many predict to be one of the…
## Funding Gap Concerns
In December 2025, EU leaders failed to agree to use over €210bn in Russian frozen funds sitting in Europe and instead decided to go for a €90bn loan, aimed at covering about two-thirds of Ukraine’s…
## Ukraine's Financial Challenge
The €90bn loan is split into €45bn for 2026 and 2027, but recent reports point to about a €23bn financial gap amid an expected Russian escalation ahead of the winter.
## Key takeaway

Zelensky urges EU leaders to provide more defense funds and sanctions against Russia ahead of a key summit to address Ukraine's funding gap and military needs.