Ukrainian President Zelensky Addresses Reporters on EU Summit, Frozen Assets, and Weaponry

Key Takeaways from the EU Summit Address

• 🇪🇺 President Zelensky expressed gratitude for the EU's financial support for Ukraine in 2026-2027 and for the inclusion of Finland and Spain in the Patriot air defense program.
• 🎯 He highlighted the critical importance of air defense systems for Ukraine's security.

Frozen Russian Assets and Funding

• 💰 Zelensky discussed the complex process of utilizing frozen Russian assets, emphasizing that decisions were made in unity and that these funds are crucial for Ukraine's defense.
• 💸 He stated that while previous use of these assets provided around 3 billion annually, it is insufficient for the current war effort.
• ⚖️ The President hopes EU leaders will make a political decision to use frozen assets to help fund Ukraine, acknowledging it's a significant step.

Long-Range Weaponry and Production

• 🚀 Ukraine is utilizing Ukrainian-made long-range capabilities ranging from 150 km to 3,000 km.
• 💰 A key challenge is securing additional finances for mass production of these capabilities, with a portion of frozen assets potentially allocated to this.
• ⚠️ Zelensky clarified that American long-range weapons have not been used to target Russia directly, but rather within Ukrainian territory, including temporarily occupied areas like Crimea, for defensive operations.

European Defense Industry and Peace Plan

• 🛠️ Ukraine aims to use frozen assets for Ukrainian and European production, focusing on drones, electronic warfare systems, and missiles.
• 🤝 He noted that European partners are crucial, particularly for artillery rounds and intelligence drones, and expressed readiness for co-production.
• 🕊️ Regarding a peace plan, Zelensky stated that the plan begins with a will to sit and speak, emphasizing a ceasefire as the first step, not a fight against civilians.

International Support and Financial Needs

• 🤝 Zelensky thanked Nordic partners, especially Norway, for their significant military, financial, and energy support.
• ⏳ Ukraine needs the reparations loan to be ready by the beginning of 2026, though he acknowledged that not all aspects depend solely on Ukraine.
• 🇺🇸 He commented on a meeting with the US President, noting the results included sanctions on Russian energy and no meeting in Hungary without Ukraine, but expressed uncertainty about future developments.