GRANADA, SPAIN – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told European leaders on Thursday (5 October) that he remained confident of America’s continued support despite the recent political upheaval there, while the EU warned it would not be able to fill any funding gap left by Washington.
Speaking in person at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Granada, Zelenskyy told reporters Kyiv had been assured of US President Joe Biden’s backing but acknowledged that it was a “difficult election period for the United States”.
Support from Europe has become even more crucial after the US Congress excluded more aid for Kyiv from a national spending deal that the White House had vigorously backed.
Washinton so far has committed $43 billion in military assistance, while Congress has approved $113 billion in aid, including humanitarian help.
But fresh US funding for Ukraine has been put on hold as part of a weekend deal struck with opposition Republicans to avert a US government shutdown.
“Different voices. Some of the voices are very strange. “We will also speak about this,” Zelenskyy said before going into the meeting.
But besides maintaining unity, which he called “the main challenge”, he stressed that getting more military aid to get through the winter was just as essential.
“Europe must be strong” despite what happens in other places globally, he said, calling for more air defence systems, artillery shells, long-range missiles, and drones.
Europeans have over the past week stepped up efforts to portray their support for Ukraine as unwavering after last weekend’s election in Slovakia handed the victory to pro-Russian candidate Robert Fico. At the same time, Hungary’s continued delays on aid for Kyiv have also raised doubts about Europe’s commitment.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters she was “very confident” that Washington’s support for Ukraine would continue and praised a decision by Biden to reassure Western partners during a call on Monday (2 October).
“What the United States is working on is the timing,” von der Leyen said.
Biden called leaders of other world powers on Tuesday (3 October) to coordinate on Ukraine, in a deliberate show of continued US support at a time when the future of its aid is questioned by an important faction of Republicans.
Earlier this week, in a show of solidarity with Ukraine, both the EU and Kyiv tried to brush off the uncertainty as Russia’s offensive went into its 20th month with a rare gathering of EU foreign ministers outside the bloc.
Speaking to reporters in Granada, the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said a US funding cut for Ukraine “was certainly not expected”.
“The hope is that it is not going to be the definite position of the US,” Borrell told reporters. “Everybody that doesn’t want Putin winning this war is to look for ways for the US to retake this issue and continue supporting Ukraine.”
But even if the EU promised to continue its support for Kyiv, it could never replace Washington’s contribution if funds were to dry up there, Borrell warned.
“Certainly we can do more. But the US is something irreplaceable for the support of Ukraine,” he said.
EU leaders at the EPC summit also warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin was betting on the West becoming fatigued with the long-term support of Ukraine, handing him a path to victory.
“I think Russia wants us to be tired,” Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said.
“We should show them that we are not. We have to help Ukraine as long as it takes.”
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]
