BRUSSELS, October 16. /TASS/. The EU should prepare to fund Ukraine beyond 2027 and include these expenses in its budget, Vladimir Zelensky said.

Speaking at the EU summit, he reiterated that Ukraine "helps guarantee European security." "These security guarantees are not yet reflected - we think - in your [EU] budget from 2028 onward. Let’s get serious about this. Let’s work out exactly how Ukraine’s defense capabilities should be included in that budget," Zelensky said in a video of his speech posted on his X page.

In the same speech, he stated that Ukraine will need additional 70 billion euros from the EU for military needs in 2027.

Meanwhile, a European diplomat told reporters on the sidelines of the EU summit that the leaders expressed their support for Zelensky and promised to continue providing funding as part of a 90 billion euro loan. They did not, however, offer Kiev any new financial aid packages or arms shipments. Meanwhile, since late August, the Ukrainian authorities have asserted that this loan will not be sufficient.