Zelenskyy: €90bn EU loan gives Ukraine new leverage
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the European Union's decision to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan for 2026 and 2027 opens up new opportunities for the state and strengthens its resilience. He said this in an interview with the Polish media PAP, TVP and Polish Radio during his visit to Poland, reports The Publiс.
According to the Head of State, Russia was counting on the financial exhaustion of Ukraine, but the decision taken at the EU summit destroyed these expectations. The President thanked the partner countries, particularly Poland, for their support, noting that not all EU leaders had immediately supported the idea of such a loan.
Zelenskyy stressed that €90 billion for two years is about €45 billion annually, which covers a significant part of the financial needs of a country at war. He emphasised that these funds should be returned in the future through Russian reparations, and therefore the issue of Russia's responsibility remains fundamental not only financially, but also morally and legally.
The President also said that he had discussed the topic of peace talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. According to him, the Ukrainian delegation is already working in the United States and preparing for meetings with American negotiators.
Zelensky also said that Ukraine does not and will not block the process of searching for and exhuming the victims of the Volyn tragedy, stressing the need for mutual respect in historical issues between Kyiv and Warsaw.
Commenting on the possibility of elections, the president assured that he was not holding on to the post, but that voting was possible only if citizens were fully safe in the war. He added that the issue of security guarantees is moving forward, in particular with the participation of the United States and European partners.
Zelensky also confirmed Ukraine's interest in joint production of drones and missiles with Poland, and called the situation at the frontline difficult but controlled. According to him, pressure from Russia does not mean that Ukraine is ready to surrender.
