Zelenskyy joins EU summit as leaders discuss elusive Ukraine peace, missed migration deadline

The European Union (EU) leaders gathered in Brussels on Thursday for a critical summit alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , navigating high-stakes debates over long-term funding for Kyiv and a major setback in the implementation of the bloc’s new, contentious migration policy.

The meeting took place immediately after the EU and the US imposed a fresh round of sanctions on Russia , an action Zelenskyy hailed as “very important.”

The central focus of the day was maintaining “unwavering support” for Ukraine, with discussions centered on two key mechanisms to pressure Moscow and fund Kyiv’s defence.

First, the EU agreed on its latest round of sanctions against Russia, targeting its oil and gas sectors, its “shadow fleet” of aging tankers used to evade sanctions, and its financial sector. The measures are part of a broader, coordinated effort with the US to choke off revenue funding Russia’s war machine.

Second, leaders tackled a crucial, yet thorny, proposal: establishing a €140 billion ($162.3 billion) interest-free loan for Ukraine, secured by the profits generated from Russia’s frozen assets in Europe. The plan faced immediate resistance from some member states, including Belgium, which hosts the majority of the assets. They demanded that all EU countries share the risk of potential Russian retaliation before agreeing to the financing mechanism.

On the diplomatic front, President Zelenskyy provided a cautious outlook on ending the nearly two-year-old conflict. Speaking to reporters upon arrival, he stated that a “ceasefire is still possible,” but only if the international community applies “more pressure on Russia.” He also made it clear that Ukraine would accept “no territorial concessions” in any future peace negotiations.

Migration pact hits pause

In a parallel discussion on the bloc’s internal struggles, leaders addressed the failure to implement the EU’s flagship Migration and Asylum Pact.

The European Commission missed its October 15 deadline to adopt the first Annual Asylum and Migration Report. This critical report is required to launch the mandatory “solidarity mechanism”—a key element of the new pact that obligates member states to either relocate asylum seekers from overburdened frontline countries or pay a fixed fee of €20,000 ($23,187) per person not relocated.

The delay, attributed to ongoing internal consultations and the complexities of establishing the fair-share formula, means the mandatory relocation and financial contribution scheme is effectively stalled. This failure adds to the political pressure from countries like Poland and Hungary, which have previously stated their opposition to implementing core elements of the pact.