Zelenskyy: Reparations loan must be agreed upon or Putin will shun dialogue

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that if the EU fails to agree upon funding for Ukraine, it will leave the country in a more vulnerable position and undermine prospects for a diplomatic settlement.

Zelenskyy was asked what Ukraine would do if the EU does not agree to use frozen Russian funds to support Ukraine.

"If Ukraine doesn't have such money, it is in a weaker position. Putin's temptation to seize us grows because we are in a position where we don't have enough money for life and for weapons. And he understands that we will be weaker and more vulnerable.

And it is absolutely clear that he will have no interest in pursuing a diplomatic route. He will definitely not want any diplomacy, any dialogue," Zelenskyy said to journalists when travelling to Brussels.

Zelenskyy also said earlier that frozen Russian funds held in the West would be used to rebuild Ukraine if a plan to end the war is agreed upon.

On Thursday, it became known that diplomats from European Union member states had reached a tentative agreement on using frozen Russian assets to provide Ukraine with a "reparations loan" in 2026-2027, but the final decision is to be taken by EU leaders at the European Council meeting.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that today's EU summit must choose one of two options for financing Ukraine and that a decision will ultimately be taken.