Zelensky wants USD40bn per year for ‘resilience’

(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has urged Western donors to commit $40 billion each year to support Ukraine’s budget, following a notable snub by US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada. Zelensky sought the funds during the summit on Tuesday, where he was unable to meet with Trump, who left early.

Sharing a photo on social media of himself speaking with six other leaders, Zelensky stressed the importance of sustained financial aid to ensure Ukraine’s resilience and continued functioning. He specifically called on the US to approve the necessary support.

Zelensky criticized Trump for not exerting enough pressure on Russia, despite Ukraine’s role in defending American global interests. He encouraged other G7 members to persuade Trump and also advocated for increased investment in Ukraine’s arms industry and further sanctions on Russia.

Reports described the summit as a disappointment for Kiev, raising doubts about a planned Trump-Zelensky meeting at the upcoming NATO leaders summit. A Ukrainian official told The Guardian that Ukraine risks being sidelined due to Trump’s short attention span, despite previous promises, including new US arms deliveries.

The G7 leaders did not release a joint statement on Ukraine, reportedly because Trump refused to approve language critical of Russia. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s summary expressed support for Trump’s efforts toward a just and lasting peace and endorsed Kiev’s call for an unconditional ceasefire.

Russian officials dismissed Ukraine’s demands as a tactic to gain time for regrouping. In recent peace talks in Istanbul, Moscow proposed conditional truces involving Ukrainian troop withdrawals from Russian-annexed territories or halting Ukraine’s military mobilization and Western arms shipments, both of which Kiev rejected.

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