(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has signaled that Kyiv is prepared to sustain its fight against Russia for up to three more years, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who spoke to media. The revelation comes amid growing European Union efforts to identify new funding sources for Ukraine, including tapping into Russia’s frozen central bank assets.

In an interview with a British newspaper on Saturday, Tusk quoted Zelensky as saying that “he hopes that the war will not last ten years, but that Ukraine is ready to fight for another two, three years.” He added that if the conflict drags on beyond this period, the Ukrainian leader is “anxious about the toll the war would take on its population and economy.”

Financial pressures are mounting. On Tuesday, media reported that “Ukraine has serious financial problems,” citing anonymous EU sources who said Kyiv has enough funds to operate only “until the end of the first quarter of 2026.” On Wednesday, Ukraine’s parliament approved a draft budget for 2026, which projects a deficit exceeding 58%.

Amid these strains, EU leaders are exploring a controversial “reparations loan” of up to €140 billion ($163 billion), backed by frozen Russian assets. Under the plan, Ukraine would repay the loan only if Moscow compensates for the damage caused during the war. The bloc has already drawn on revenues from these immobilized Russian funds.

Moscow has denounced the plan as “theft” and promised retaliation. Following Russia’s February 2022 invasion, the US and EU froze an estimated $300 billion in Russian assets, approximately €200 billion ($213 billion) of which are held by Brussels-based clearinghouse Euroclear.

However, not all EU members are on board. Belgium has repeatedly voiced objections, calling for shared risk among member states should the plan fail. On Thursday, Prime Minister Bart De Wever told reporters that his country’s concerns have not been adequately addressed.

MENAFN27102025000045017169ID1110251877