Zelenskyy asks EU leaders for 70 billion euros in aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked EU leaders on Friday for 70 billion euros in aid, as the bloc's heads of state and government discussed further financial support for Ukraine on the second day of their Brussels summit. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Kyiv, with von der Leyen stressing the importance of adopting a 22nd EU sanctions package against Russia. Zelenskyy said the war would cost 155 billion euros next year and that Ukraine needs at least 70 billion euros for defense, while the EU is currently disbursing a 90 billion euro loan in stages. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said the additional financial needs must first be assessed and made transparent, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed deep concern over the situation in Ukraine. Zelenskyy also defended Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities and expects a new meeting with the US side in the coming days, despite tensions with President Donald Trump, who called Zelenskyy "not a good man for us to negotiate with."