Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · Aug 24
Europe Pledges $7 Billion for Ukraine as Zelenskyy Demands Sanctions to Force Russia to Talks
Updated
Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · Aug 24
Europe Pledges $7 Billion for Ukraine as Zelenskyy Demands Sanctions to Force Russia to Talks
3 articles · Updated · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty · Aug 24
Summary
$7 billion in new European military aid was unveiled on Ukraine's Independence Day, with funds earmarked for air and missile defenses, missiles, ammunition and radars.
Zelenskyy used the anniversary address to urge the United States, Europe and China to intensify pressure on Moscow, saying sanctions must force Russia to the negotiating table rather than Ukraine into surrender.
At the Kyiv meeting of Ukraine backers, Zelenskyy said the country still faces a 27-billion-euro ($31.5 billion) defense funding gap this year as allies scramble to reinforce air defenses before winter strikes.
US support remains a major uncertainty: the embassy promised stronger economic and security ties, but military supplies have largely dried up since 2025 and Patriot interceptor stocks are nearly exhausted.
The appeals came as the war entered its fifth year, with Russia maintaining missile and drone attacks and Ukraine expanding strikes on Russian logistics targets.
With Western stockpiles nearly depleted, can Ukraine's risky gamble to build sensitive missile factories on its own soil survive relentless Russian bombardment?
As European leaders prepare a post-ceasefire reassurance force, what secret security guarantees are actually being promised to Kyiv behind closed doors?
Why is the Coalition of the Willing quietly shifting from donating weapons to establishing highly classified missile assembly lines directly inside a warzone?