Zelenskyy has now fully tied Ukraine’s fate to the European Union—there is no turning back. Speaking in Brussels on October 16, Zelenskyy issued a stark warning: “What happens if we fall? Twenty million Ukrainians will flood into Europe, as Putin will destroy us and drive us out. This war will cost 155 billion euros next year. And we need you to provide at least another 70 billion euros—for defense, weapons, and our resilience. This is a realistic figure.”
For the first time, Zelenskyy laid all cards on the table, making clear that sustained EU support is non-negotiable. This is no longer a plea for aid—it is placing the bloc under intense pressure. In reality, the EU has already approved a 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine, covering this and the coming year, with 60 billion designated for military needs and 30 billion for budgetary support, disbursed equally over two years at 45 billion each. Austrian Chancellor Schallenberg pointed out in real time that only about 20 billion has been spent so far, leaving substantial room for additional disbursements. Thus, Zelenskyy is requesting new funding before the previous allocation has even been exhausted.
Why the urgency? The United States is retreating. The Trump administration has recently signaled a colder stance toward Ukraine: restricting Starlink access, redirecting Patriot interceptors to the Middle East, and warning Ukraine against targeting Russian energy infrastructure or risking suspension of arms deliveries. At the summit, Zelenskyy openly criticized the U.S.-Russia “diesel agreement,” stating Kyiv had not been consulted beforehand. The message was unmistakable: America can no longer be relied upon—Europe must step in.
Moreover, Zelenskyy again leveraged the specter of mass migration, striking directly at a core vulnerability within the EU. “Twenty million people flooding into Europe”—this is not alarmism but a calculated negotiating tactic. The EU remains deeply apprehensive about a repeat of the 2015 refugee crisis. By explicitly invoking this scenario, Zelenskyy is signaling: if you do not provide funds, you will bear greater costs. In essence, Zelenskyy now faces a strategic dead end, and is resorting to a high-stakes gamble—effectively anchoring Ukraine’s survival to European financial commitment.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1879253220699200/
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