Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with European and NATO leaders in Brussels to call for more military support and “real pressure” on Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels on Thursday, where he is scheduled to meet with NATO and European Union leaders to call for increased pressure on Russia and strengthened military support for Ukraine. The visit comes as European states seek solutions to finance Kyiv in 2027, while negotiations on using frozen Russian assets remain deadlocked.

“We all in Europe want this war to end. And for that to happen, strong signals are needed: more real pressure on Russia and more defense support for Ukraine,” Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Zelensky is due to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and the prime ministers of Poland, Belgium, and Denmark. The Ukrainian leader said that “strong signals” are needed to end the war and urged allies to show honesty. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk replied that Ukraine is not alone.

Financial and military support for Kyiv is secured for 2026, but 2027 is considered difficult because of a significant budget deficit. The EU has approved a €90 billion loan for the 2026–2027 period, but the amount is considered insufficient.

Several states support using the assets of Russia’s Central Bank frozen in the EU, approximately €210 billion of which is held in Belgium. However, the Belgian prime minister opposed this measure, and discussions remain deadlocked.