Zelensky warns EU: without reparations loan, Ukraine will lose drones and long-range strikes
18 December 19:52
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Brussels that without a reparations loan from frozen Russian assets in the spring of 2026, Ukraine will be forced to drastically reduce drone production. The head of state said this during a press conference in Brussels, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to him, this will also mean the loss of opportunities for long-range strikes on Russia’s energy sector.
What exactly does Kyiv mean?
We are talking about the funding that the EU plans to provide to Ukraine at the expense of the proceeds from the frozen assets of the Russian Federation. In case of peace, these funds will be used to rebuild the country. If the war continues, it will be used for key defense priorities, primarily the production of drones.
Why it is important
Drones have become one of Ukraine’s key tools at the front – both cheap drones for the battlefield and tools for deep strikes. Zelenskyy emphasized that the number of cheap drones in Ukraine is now roughly comparable to Russia’s, but without funding, this balance will be lost.
Long-range strikes and sanctions pressure
The President emphasized that strikes on Russian energy are part of a broader strategy of pressure along with Western sanctions. Without the resources for such operations, he said, “all of this will simply not happen,” which will weaken Kyiv’s position.
Political context
Zelenskyy links the funding to negotiations to end the war: without a reparations loan, Ukraine will be in a weaker position, and the Kremlin will be tempted to continue the war, he said. The statement came on the eve of the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, where they are discussing a multi-year support package for Ukraine worth tens of billions of euros.
European leaders are expected to make a decision on funding for Ukraine in the near future. For Kyiv, this issue is directly related not only to economic stability, but also to the ability to hold the front and strike at Russia’s resources.
