Zelensky thanks EU leaders in Brussels as Kallas warns Europe cannot replace Starlink soon

Zelensky in Brussels

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined the second day of the European Council summit in Brussels on Friday, 16 October 2026, after the meeting opened on Thursday, 15 October. At a joint press point with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, he thanked EU leaders for their support since the start of the war and called them real leaders. Zelensky said he did not see Russia ready to end its invasion, so Ukraine must prepare for winter, which requires more energy supplies, better air defence and financing. He said the agenda with EU leaders also covers Ukraine's budget needs for 2027 and its accession process, a few days after two more negotiating clusters were opened. He also pointed to Ukraine's energy needs in the face of intense Russian attacks on its infrastructure, saying the winter package covers air defence and financing as well as energy.

EU pledges support and pressure on Russia

Costa told Zelensky that EU support for Ukraine remains as strong as ever and that this is not the moment to withdraw support or ease sanctions on Russia. He argued that more support and more pressure are needed to bring Russia to accept a real ceasefire and sit at the negotiating table. Costa also told Zelensky that the EU could be counted on not only during the war but also for Ukraine's future as a member of the bloc. Von der Leyen said the goal is to open the last two negotiating clusters by the end of 2026, and she thanked the Rada, Ukraine's parliament, for its work on the reforms needed for accession. She told the press point that Russia is doing everything it can to destroy Ukraine's energy and water infrastructure, and that the EU will help Kyiv get through the winter as it did in previous winters.

Sanctions, energy truce and the Trump dispute

Von der Leyen said Russia had not respected the energy ceasefire proposed by US President Donald Trump, not even for a minute, and had intensified its attacks instead. She said the EU is working on a 22nd sanctions package and that no sanctions would be lifted until Russia stops the war. Europa Press reports that Zelensky is in a dispute with Trump over the sale of Russian diesel in the United States and Trump's criticism of Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. Adnkronos described strong tensions between Kyiv and Washington as the summit got under way. Macron met Zelensky on the evening of 15 October and wrote on X that Russia was choosing escalation because it was bogged down at the front. He said it was crucial to supply Ukraine collectively with all the means needed to defend itself and protect its civilian population and infrastructure.

Starlink and European defence readiness

Kaja Kallas, the EU's high representative, said on arriving at the Council that Starlink is truly necessary for Ukraine and that Europe cannot replace that capacity in the short term. She said the European Defence Agency is mapping all critical capabilities and gaps, and that implementation must start as soon as possible because the EU needs those capabilities itself. Her remarks followed restrictions on SpaceX's Starshield military satellite service introduced on 14 October, which caused interruptions in the communications of Ukrainian drones and other military difficulties for Kyiv. Defence readiness is on the Council's agenda alongside the winter package and Ukraine's budget needs.