At the European Council, Zelenskyy Outlined Ukraine's Critical Needs to Weather the Coming Winter
During his address at a meeting of the European Council, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined the country’s most critical needs in preparation for the coming winter, assuming that the Russian war continues.
The head of state emphasized that the Ukrainian government aims to end the military conflict with Russia by the winter of 2026 through an effective combination of international pressure and diplomacy.
However, if the Kremlin continues its aggressive course, Ukraine will need another large-scale “winter” aid package from its European partners.
The Ukrainian leader called for acting as quickly as possible and making decisions without delay, as the country’s infrastructure is under constant threat of attacks.
Given the anticipated risks, the country needs systematic support in both the energy and military sectors.
Official Kyiv emphasizes that preparations for the challenging winter period must begin immediately to minimize the consequences of possible Russian attacks on civilian targets.
The president has openly outlined a list of necessary resources that will help maintain the stability of the power grid and protect Ukrainian cities.
“This must include an energy package: gas, diesel. I don’t know what they will destroy this winter or before winter, so I’m saying: gas, diesel, gasoline…. And, of course, we need a package of 300 missiles—at least 300 missiles, anti-ballistic missiles, to withstand 3–4 months of these massive strikes… Help us prepare for winter. We’re asking you for this now. We don’t have time to think. We have only one choice—to decide what to do,” Zelenskyy said.
The timely delivery of the specified weapons and fuel is seen as the only way to mitigate the effects of the occupiers’ prolonged airstrikes.
Currently, the Cabinet of Ministers and European institutions are developing technical routes for the supply of energy resources.
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