Zelensky Tells Allies Ukraine Expects Western Nations to Fund War Effort for ‘Two or Three More Years’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a blunt message to his Western allies: the fight against Russian aggression will continue for “two or three years,” and Kyiv wants other countries to fund it.

In remarks made public on October 28 2025, Zelensky told European leaders that Ukraine is not preparing for “decades” of war, but does “require” a defined period of financial support. “I emphasised this again to all European leaders. I told them that we are not going to fight for decades, but you must show that for some time you will be able to provide stable financial support to Ukraine… [for] two or three years,” he said.

Zelensky made clear that, even if the war ends earlier than anticipated, the funds are still something he wants. “If the war ends in a month, we will spend this money on recovery. If it does not end in a month, but after some time, then we will spend it on weapons. We simply have no other choice,” he said.

As the war between Russia and Ukraine stretches into its fourth year, Ukraine remains heavily dependent on military and financial aid from Western countries.

While Zelensky addressed European leaders, his remarks also touched on U.S. policy and broader global shifts. He urged U.S. President Donald Trump to lean on China’s leader Xi Jinping to curb Russia’s oil revenues, referencing recent U.S. sanctions on Russian energy.

Earlier in 2025, the Trump administration had threatened new tariffs on countries importing Russian oil, signalling that U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Russia remains a key factor in the broader conflict.

On Zelensky’s part, the conversation dovetails with European plans to unlock tens of billions of euros in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction. EU leaders are working on mechanisms that could channel these funds to Ukraine over the next two to three years, in alignment with Zelensky’s request.