On Friday, 16 October, Zelensky asked EU leaders for at least 70,000 million euros more to fund the war in 2027, which he said would cost 155,000 million euros next year.
The European Council said it regrets the US decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel temporarily, a deal in which Moscow would free thousands of barrels of diesel.
Trump said Ukrainian strikes on refineries were raising world oil prices and claimed the US had spent more than Europe, a claim LaSexta's figures of 118,000 and 242,000 million euros dispute.
A White House order on Wednesday, 14 October, restricted Starshield, according to Reuters, affecting Ukrainian missions in occupied territory and air defence.
The European Council said it regrets the US decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel temporarily, a step the 27 EU member states read as a setback for Ukraine. Under the arrangement, Moscow would release thousands of barrels of diesel onto world markets in exchange for Washington easing some sanctions on Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron said the decision was not good for anyone, would not solve the global diesel market problem and sent a negative message. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro called the move incoherent and inconsequential, while Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the deal points in the wrong direction even if it makes up a small share of supply. Ursula von der Leyen told the Brussels summit that the bloc will not lift any sanctions unless Russia stops the war.
In an interview, Trump said Joe Biden had given Ukraine massive quantities of Tomahawk and Patriot missiles, a claim LaSexta describes as false because the United States has never supplied Tomahawks to Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion. Trump also blamed Zelensky for higher oil prices, saying Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries were pushing up world prices while ignoring the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. LaSexta links that disruption to the war Trump started against Iran. Trump further claimed the United States had spent more on the Ukraine conflict than Europe, but LaSexta's figures put US weapons and humanitarian aid at about 118,000 million euros against 242,000 million for Europe, twice the American amount. Trump has said he is not a big fan of Zelensky, and he has asked on several occasions for the Ukrainian leader to resign.
Data from the article text
At the Brussels summit on Friday, 16 October, Zelensky asked European allies for at least 70,000 million euros in additional funding for 2027, saying the war would cost 155,000 million euros next year. He called that figure realistic and asked the leaders to help contain Russia. Von der Leyen confirmed the 70,000 million euro figure had to be covered and urged member states to step in, while other leaders were more cautious. Zelensky thanked European leaders for standing with Ukraine since the start of the war. When asked whether Trump was using him as a scapegoat before the November midterm elections, he answered with a smile and silence rather than criticism.
Data from the article text
On Wednesday, 14 October, a White House order restricted Starshield, the military version of Starlink, according to Reuters. The restriction affected Ukrainian armed forces missions in territory occupied by Russia and air defence capabilities against Russian air attacks. Speaking from Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city and close to the front, a Ukrainian serviceman said the satellite service has worked much worse since Trump's new arrangements with Moscow. On Friday, Kharkiv lost two residents, a man and a woman who sold goods at a second-hand market. Zelensky had said on Thursday, 15 October, that Ukraine was attacked by 1,000 drones.
Zelensky said his aides are in talks with the US negotiating team and that a meeting will be arranged. The EU has promised to raise pressure on the Kremlin with new restrictions while struggling to find extra aid amid tight budgets. Rising diesel prices are complicating Trump's position ahead of the November midterm elections, which is the context in which European leaders criticised the deal.
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Zelensky asked EU allies for at least 70 billion euros more for 2027 as the bloc criticised Washington's temporary easing of Russian diesel sanctions.
AI text based on reports by LaSexta, SWI swissinfo.ch, ABC TU DIARIO EN ESPAÑOL and other publishers. Published .