EU leaders pledge Ukraine support as Zelenskyy seeks €70 billion

The short version

• EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss economic challenges, including competition from China and a trade deficit of €360 billion last year.[Deutsche Welle]
• Zelenskyy asked EU leaders for an additional €70 billion next year to keep fighting Russia, and Costa called for more support and pressure.[Deutsche Welle · Al Jazeera]
• Von der Leyen said sanctions on Russia will not be lifted unless Russia stops the war, while Austria urged caution on new financial commitments.[Deutsche Welle · Al Jazeera]
• Zelenskyy called his first bilateral meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar very good, and Magyar said the two countries agreed to a new footing in relations.[Deutsche Welle]

Key facts

• The EU's trade deficit with China reached €360 billion last year.[Deutsche Welle]
• Zelenskyy asked EU leaders for an additional €70 billion ($79 billion) in funding for next year.[Deutsche Welle · Al Jazeera]
• Costa said it was time to increase support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia.[Deutsche Welle · Al Jazeera]
• Von der Leyen said the EU will not lift sanctions unless Russia stops the war.[Deutsche Welle]
• Austria urged caution on new, far-reaching financial commitments to Ukraine.[Al Jazeera]
• Zelenskyy described his first bilateral meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar as very good.[Deutsche Welle]
• Magyar said Budapest and Kyiv agreed to put their relations on a new footing.[Deutsche Welle]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• EU summit to focus on China, Ukraine and bloc budgetDeutsche Welle
• EU rallies in support of Ukraine amid Trump standoffAl Jazeera
• At summit, EU leaders pledge support for Ukraine's ZelenskyyDeutsche Welle