Zelenskyy and von der Leyen’s meeting was tense over Ukraine’s funding issue.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New York was tense due to additional financial assistance for Ukraine and the implementation of reforms.

Bloomberg reports this, citing a source familiar with the progress of the negotiations.

According to the publication’s source, the Ukrainian side expressed concern about the possible intensification of Russian attacks in the winter, in particular due to the limited capabilities of Ukrainian air defense systems to protect cities.

In this regard, Kyiv called on its partners to help cover the budget deficit, estimated at approximately $30 billion, and to accelerate the flow of funds under the €90 billion European loan.

Separately, the Ukrainian side expressed dissatisfaction with the EU’s decision to exempt Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from sanctions. Following the meeting, President Zelenskyy also publicly stated that easing sanctions against Russian oligarchs is “counterproductive.”

At the same time, according to Bloomberg, EU representatives have made it clear that they expect Ukraine to make progress in adopting legislation aimed at reducing the shadow economy, increasing tax revenues, and further aligning Ukrainian regulations with EU legislation.

The European side also questioned Kyiv’s estimate of the budget needs and emphasized that some of the necessary funding should be provided by other international partners, particularly Canada, Norway, and Japan. The EU previously stated that its support package should cover approximately two-thirds of Ukraine’s financial needs, while the remainder is expected to come from other partners.

Following the meeting, Zelenskyy announced that the Ukrainian and European Commission teams would continue working on additional financial support options. He added that the parties agreed to seek solutions to ensure Ukraine’s financial stability this year and into next.