EU leaders pledge winter support to Zelensky as Fico keeps distance at Brussels summit

Warm welcome in Brussels

Volodymyr Zelensky entered the European Council room at the Europa Building to a long round of applause, handshakes and embraces, ANSA reported. The one leader who stayed out of that round was Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and according to Politico, as cited by ANSA, Zelensky did not even approach him. ANSA linked the coolness to reports circulating in the days before the summit that Fico was drawing closer to Moscow. The summit has been under way since Thursday, 15 October, according to Europa Press, and its second day opened with a joint press appearance by Zelensky, Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

Winter preparations and the 2027 budget

Arriving at the Council, Zelensky said Russia showed no sign of being ready to end the war, so Ukraine has to prepare for winter. He described a winter package covering energy, air defence and financing, and said Ukraine's financial needs for 2027, not only for 2026, were a fundamental topic for the talks. He thanked parliament and government for passing reforms despite massive attacks. Von der Leyen said Russia was trying to destroy Ukraine's energy and water infrastructure and promised the EU would help Kyiv get through the winter, as it had in previous winters. Zelensky also reported on X the day's casualty toll after Russian drone attacks on Kharkiv and Rivne.

Accession talks and EU assurances

Costa told Zelensky the EU could be counted on not only during the war but also for Ukraine's future as a member. He noted that Ukraine and the EU had opened two more negotiating clusters in the week of 12 October. Von der Leyen said the goal is to open the last two clusters by the end of 2026, and she thanked the Rada for its work on the reforms needed for membership. Zelensky said Ukraine is working to start the remaining two before year end. Costa argued that this was not the moment to withdraw support or ease sanctions, and that pressure should rise so Russia accepts a real ceasefire.

Starlink, sanctions and the dispute with Washington

Kallas said Starlink is truly necessary for Ukraine and that, in the short term, Europe cannot replace that capacity. She said the European Defence Agency is mapping all critical capabilities and gaps that the EU must close, and urged moving to implementation as soon as possible. Her remarks follow restrictions on SpaceX's Starshield military satellite service imposed on 14 October 2026, which interrupted communications for Ukrainian drones and created other military difficulties for Kyiv. Europa Press also reports a dispute between Zelensky and Donald Trump over the marketing of Russian diesel in the United States and Trump's criticism of Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. Von der Leyen said the EU had backed Trump's proposed energy ceasefire, but Russia did not respect it for even a minute and stepped up its attacks. She said the EU is working on a 22nd sanctions package and will not lift any sanctions until Russia stops the war.