Zelensky seeks European funding as ties with Trump worsen

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky turned to European leaders on Friday to request nearly 80 billion dollars, or 70 billion euros, in funding for the war against Russia next year, according to France 24. The appeal comes as European leaders rallied around the Ukrainian leader following new criticism from United States President Donald Trump, the BBC and the South China Morning Post reported. [1][3][4]

The rift widened after the United States eased sanctions on Moscow to secure a diesel supply deal, France 24 and the BBC reported. In an interview with Newsmax aired on Thursday, Donald Trump called Ukraine's recent strikes on Russian oil refineries a disgrace that keeps global energy prices high, according to the South China Morning Post. The BBC reported that the US president also stated Volodymyr Zelensky was more difficult to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin. [1][3][5]

Volodymyr Zelensky defended the strikes by stating he is only standing up for the interests of Ukraine and that his country has a right to defend itself, according to the BBC. The Ukrainian president also expressed concern over the American diesel agreement with Moscow, stating that he could not accept it because a gas agreement might follow, the BBC reported. [3]

Tensions between Washington and Kyiv have built over time. On February 28, 2025, Donald Trump and US Vice President JD Vance held a contentious bilateral meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, which ended abruptly without an agreement after American leaders repeatedly criticized the Ukrainian president. [12]