Zelenskyy Urges Europe to Stand Firm

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on European leaders to strengthen support for Ukraine, increase defense cooperation and advance the country’s European Union membership during an address to the EU Foreign Affairs Council on March 31, 2026. He argued that the outcome of Russia’s war against Ukraine would directly shape Europe’s security and future.

Zelenskyy urged European countries to expand joint production of drones, missiles and air-defense systems, drawing on Ukraine’s battlefield experience. He said Europe should develop the capacity to produce critical defense equipment independently and warned that modern conflicts, including those in the Middle East and Gulf region, are increasingly shaped by drone and missile warfare.

The Ukrainian president also called for stronger sanctions against Russia, including measures targeting Russian oil revenues and shipping. He said European decisions on a proposed 90-billion-euro support program for Ukraine, which he said would include funding for recovery and protection ahead of winter, should be implemented without delay.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to continue accession negotiations and urged the EU to set a clear date for the country’s membership. He also said Kyiv was pursuing diplomatic efforts to end the war, including a proposed Easter ceasefire, and called on the United States and European governments to maintain pressure on Russia to engage in meaningful peace talks.