Von der Leyen meets Zelenskyy in New York, announces new EU anti-ballistic programme and €37 billion in budget support
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Von der Leyen announced a new EU–Ukraine anti-ballistic programme and said €37 billion in EU budget support remains available for Ukraine this year. Zelenskyy pushed back against lifting sanctions on Russian oligarchs.
Key points
- The meeting took place in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
- Von der Leyen announced a new EU–Ukraine anti-ballistic programme aimed at scaling up production.
- Von der Leyen said €37 billion in EU budget support remains available for Ukraine in the current calendar year.
- Additional budget support is tied to progress on reforms in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament.
- Zelenskyy argued that lifting sanctions on individual Russian oligarchs looks self-destructive and counterproductive.
- Von der Leyen said her message to every leader at the UN General Assembly is that all must step up support for Ukraine's defence.
- Zelenskyy thanked von der Leyen for her willingness to work on adding more Russian names to sanctions lists.
Why it matters
The meeting marks a coordinated effort by the EU and Ukraine to amplify their defence and sanctions message at the UN General Assembly. The announcement of a dedicated anti-ballistic programme points to an intensification of EU defence industrial support for Ukraine, while the €37 billion figure underscores the scale of remaining financial commitments tied to domestic reform progress.
What happened
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Von der Leyen published a photo of the meeting on X along with a statement. She announced a new EU–Ukraine anti-ballistic programme intended to help rapidly scale up production of relevant capabilities. She said Europe is working harder than ever to strengthen Ukraine's defence and that €37 billion in EU budget support remains available for Ukraine in the current calendar year. She added that further budget support will come as reforms in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, progress, and that her message to every leader at the UN General Assembly is that all must step up support for Ukraine's defence. Zelenskyy argued that lifting sanctions on individual Russian oligarchs looks self-destructive and counterproductive, and thanked von der Leyen for her willingness to work on adding additional Russian names to sanctions lists.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian sources frame the meeting around the volume and concrete deliverables of EU support — the new anti-ballistic programme, the €37 billion in available budget support, and joint work on sanctions against Russian oligarchs. Coverage foregrounds Zelenskyy's direct role in setting the agenda, including his public push against easing sanctions on individual Russian oligarchs.
Background
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Additional EU budget support for Ukraine is being tied to progress on reforms in the Verkhovna Rada.