The President of the European Commission listed three points where the EU can and wants to support Ukraine. First, she mentioned the €90 billion loan, which will be delivered “one way or another.”
"Then we are working hard to integrate the defense industries in the EU and Ukraine," von der Leyen said at a joint press conference in Kyiv.
She stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine not only this winter, but “also next.” In addition, the EU must continue to put maximum pressure on the Russian “aggressor.”
Force against energy exports
Zelenskyy, in turn, demanded that measures be taken against Russian energy exports.
"There should be no place for oil and gas on the European market," he said, noting that the European Commission supports Ukraine's desire to access Russian energy exports.
"It is important that we started work on developing geopolitical security strategies for Ukraine and for Europe," Zelenskyy continued.
António Costa, President of the European Council, also highlighted support for Ukraine in his speech, but broadened the perspective.
"The future of Europe is directly linked to the freedom of Ukraine," Costa said, continuing:
"The only path to sustainable and long-lasting peace is to not allow Russia to achieve successes at the negotiating table that it has not achieved on the battlefield."
The EU representatives also noted that Ukraine has made “important progress” towards future EU membership.
Later in the evening, a joint press conference was held with Zelenskyy and heads of state and government from the Nordic countries and the Baltics.
Small countries
Zelenskyy was again asked about the necessary support of around SEK 958 billion – which EU member Hungary, among others, opposes. Zelenskyy responded diplomatically about the necessity of the support.
"How can small countries like Hungary stop the support?" Zelenskyy asked rhetorically, saying that any help Ukraine can receive from small countries is very important.
Then Zelenskyy was asked by the Swedish Radio correspondent about who he had become because of the war.
He thought about it, and continued to answer in English:
"Alone."
