Zelensky says Putin "wants to destroy us" as Ukraine faces severe winter

A Brussels summit this week ended with EU leaders applauding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but offering no firm sums for Kyiv’s finances or weapons. He warned that Ukraine faces a severe winter under Russia’s invasion. Discussions centered on worsening U.S.-Russia ties, outages affecting the Starlink internet system, and Kyiv’s growing budget shortfall. Zelensky acknowledged that U.S.-built missiles were being sent to the Middle East, which he said showed Ukraine was not being treated as a main concern; he asked the EU for nearly $80 billion next year. The bloc supplied about $100 billion in loans last year, but Kyiv says that falls short. European Council President Antonio Costa said support for Ukraine still mattered to the EU and sought 2027 funding proposals, while Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged international partners to contribute more.