EU Leaders Split on New Ukraine Funding at Brussels Summit

European Union leaders meeting in Brussels on Friday are divided over further financial support for Ukraine, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal backing increased funding while Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker urged caution. Stocker said the many figures circulating need to be clarified and made transparent, questioning where the budget gap comes from. He expressed surprise at the deficit, noting that while Russia's heavier attacks may have caused more damage, the direct impact on the budget requires discussion. He emphasized that the 90 billion euros already provided serve European interests and that aid should be tied to conditions like rule-of-law progress and anti-corruption reforms. Merz advocated for additional funds to help Ukraine through the winter and next year, while Michal suggested the EU may need to grant a new loan to cover Kyiv's budget deficit. Ukraine's finance minister reported a 32.6 billion dollar shortfall for next year, though the figures are still being verified by the EU Commission. EU leaders von der Leyen and Costa reaffirmed support and membership prospects, while Trump criticized Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries and said he finds dealing with Zelenskyy more difficult than with Putin.