The Ukraine Conflict Is Western Europe's Now --- The EU approved loans to help keep Kyiv afloat -- but it might not be enough

The fight against Russia in Ukraine is now firmly Western Europe's attempt.

 

The European Union this past week signed off on the equivalent of $105 billion in loans to keep Kyiv afloat through the end of next year -- but officials warned that it might not be enough.

 

With Russia determined to continue its four-year activity until it dominates its neighbor, and President Trump pulling back from Europe and focused on the Middle East, Ukraine finds itself reliant on the traditionally wary EU in its struggle for survival.

 

The confirmation of the loan ahead of a summit in Cyprus on Thursday, long blocked by recently ousted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, marked a fresh sign of resolve and unity in the bloc.

 

"For the first time in years there are no Russians in the room," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social media, an apparent reference to Orban, who had warm ties with Moscow but stayed away from the EU summit after recently losing an election. "Huge relief," Tusk added.

 

The funding decision, which Orban cleared this past week after his election defeat, comes at a critical moment for Ukraine, which needs the cash to sustain its economy and its military amid Russian assaults as Moscow seeks to grab more land inhabited by Russians in its neighbor's east. Kyiv now depends on its western neighbors for money to shore up its budget and fund weapons purchases to help it hold off Russia's giant military. The Trump administration has stopped providing military aid to Ukraine and sought to mediate an end to the conflict.

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the EU funding could push Russia toward negotiations. "It means that we are not empty, and we are strong."

 

The loan follows recent announcements that Ukraine will jointly produce weapons in allied European countries including Germany, Denmark, Norway and the U.K.

 

Shifting the burden of the war onto Europe's shoulders has long been a goal of the Trump administration. Vice President JD Vance has said that halting funding to Ukraine was "one of the things I'm proudest of."

 

Still, asked if the European loan was a sign that Ukraine no longer needs the U.S., Zelensky said his country needs all the assistance it can get.

 

"During the conflict we need everything and everybody," he said Thursday on his way into a meeting with European leaders. "We need the United States."

 

The U.S. provides crucial aerial interceptors that Kyiv needs to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles.

 

It also furnishes Ukraine's military with battlefield intelligence. Europe can't replace these capabilities.

 

While the Biden administration provided military equipment directly to Ukraine, European countries are buying weapons from the U.S. and sending them to Ukraine.

 

Zelensky expressed concerns that the U.S. military's use of weapons, especially interceptors, in the Middle East, is draining stocks that Ukraine needs.

 

Kyiv secured $4 billion in fresh defense commitments from Germany at a meeting this month of the countries that back Ukraine, according to Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The agreements focused on air-defense, drones and joint defense production.

 

Zelensky has sharpened his tone toward the U.S. The Ukrainian leader said Thursday he expects U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to visit Kyiv. Not coming would be "disrespectful" given that they have been to Moscow, he said in a recent interview with Ukrainian media.

 

"At present, for us, the events in Ukraine is the number one issue. For the Americans, the war in Iran is the number one issue," Zelensky told journalists via WhatsApp on Thursday.

 

While the 90 billion euro ($105 billion) loan resolves a protracted battle in Brussels, there are concerns that the bloc will have to revisit funding Ukraine next year, rather than in 2028 as was hoped.

 

The EU's loan was supposed to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's core budget and defense funding needs for this year and next. Japan and Western nations such as the U.K. are in talks to provide the estimated 45 billion euros needed through the end of 2027, diplomats said, but no money has been locked in.

 

In addition, Ukraine's funding gap for next year has grown since the loan package was initially planned, diplomats said. Ukraine needs an additional 19 billion euros to cover its budget needs next year, they said. That means EU leaders potentially could have to seek a new loan of tens of billions of euros again in 12 months.

 

The EU has faced several challenges in recent months including a crisis in its relationship with the Trump administration and a fresh surge in energy prices caused by the Iran war. Nationalist parties in France and Germany are calling for an end to funding for Ukraine. Any push for new money for Ukraine next year will bump up against a French presidential election.

 

Meanwhile, progress in Ukraine's quest for EU membership has been slow. Officials in Brussels have floated offering Ukraine some of the benefits of membership in coming years as a symbolic step toward accession. But Zelensky rejected the idea. "Ukraine does not need symbolic membership in the EU. Ukraine is defending itself and is definitely defending Europe. And it is not defending Europe symbolically -- people are really dying."” [1]

 

In reality, the Americans are still fighting - providing the weapons, covered by money of Western Europeans. Americans are also aiming those weapons. Zelensky’s people are only pushing that big red button when they are said to push. "Big Red Button" (Command Control): Ukraine relies heavily on American intelligence for targeting. Western Europeans are no use for targeting.

 

1. World News: The Ukraine War Is Europe's Now --- The EU approved loans to help keep Kyiv afloat -- but it might not be enough. Kim Mackrael; Malenko, Anastasiia; Norman, Laurence.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 25 Apr 2026: A7.  

Aggression Against Russia: Poland Creates a Division That Would Be Capable of Seizing the Kaliningrad Oblast in WWII-like activities.

 

“Facing the Kaliningrad Oblast, Poland is building a division designed to neutralize the Russian foothold within a matter of hours during WWII-like activities. A key element of this plan involves nearly 300 Borsuk Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). A second contract for their delivery could be signed as early as May.

Currently, the sole recipient of the Borsuk IFVs—manufactured in Poland by Huta Stalowa Wola S.A. (HSW)—is the 16th Pomeranian Mechanized Division named after King Casimir Jagiellon (dubbed the "Amber Division"), which is deployed along the Kaliningrad axis. All indications suggest that this division will be the beneficiary of deliveries not only under the first executive contract but also under the subsequent one, the signing of which is now fast approaching.

 

The division’s three main brigades consist of armored and mechanized units: the 9th Armored Cavalry Brigade, along with the 15th and 20th Mechanized Brigades. Collectively, these units field seven tank battalions (three of which are currently being formed) and five mechanized battalions.

 

The division’s fourth brigade (the 16th Brigade) is a newly forming motorized brigade equipped with wheeled armored personnel carriers (APCs). In the case of variants fitted with 30mm gun turrets, these vehicles can also be classified as "wheeled IFVs."

Poland’s "Amber Division" Requires Nearly 300 Borsuk IFVs

 

The 16th Division comprises a total of five mechanized battalions, all of which are slated to be equipped with the new Borsuk IFVs. Depending on whether the current battalion structure of 58 vehicles is maintained, or if smaller battalions—comprising one less company and thus numbering 44 vehicles each—are introduced, this division’s requirement for Borsuk vehicles stands at either 290 or 220 units in the IFV variant (excluding the specialized variants announced for the future).

 

Based both on statements made by military representatives and on the operational mission assigned to the division, it appears likely that the "58-vehicle" model will be retained (implying a requirement for a minimum of 290 Borsuk IFVs). However, it must be noted that when discussing the division's mission, we are not relying on official information, but rather on conclusions drawn from our own independent analyses.

 

To date, a total of 116 vehicles have been ordered, a quantity sufficient to re-equip two mechanized battalions. However, a second executive contract for the Borsuk vehicles could be signed as early as May—a possibility confirmed in an interview with *Rzeczpospolita* by Adam Leszkiewicz, President of the PGZ Group. Under this new executive contract, vehicles for two additional battalions will most likely be ordered, along with—potentially—several extra units designated for training purposes. These latter units would most likely be delivered to the Land Forces Training Center in Poznań, which is also responsible for training personnel for the Armored and Mechanized Forces.

How many Borsuk vehicles are ultimately destined for the Polish Army?

 

In accordance with the framework agreement concluded in 2023, the Polish Armed Forces plan to ultimately acquire a total of 1,400 Borsuk vehicles. The contract stipulates the delivery of over 1,000 vehicles in the combat configuration, as well as more than 300 vehicles in specialized variants—including, among others, command, reconnaissance, combat engineer, medical, and technical support vehicles.

 

The first executive agreement under the framework contract—signed in 2025—covers the delivery of 111 Borsuk Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). Deliveries will be carried out in several stages. The first 15 units were delivered at the end of 2025. The next three were scheduled to reach the military in 2026 (though the actual number is likely to be higher), while subsequent batches (33 and 55 units) are scheduled for the years 2027–2029.

 

Prior to this, between 2020 and 2023, the Polish Armed Forces received a series of pre-production vehicles (five in total), intended primarily for qualification testing and personnel training. These vehicles enabled the evaluation of a full mechanized platoon, the identification of any significant technical issues, and an assessment of the Borsuk’s tactical capabilities prior to the commencement of serial production. The 16th Division is the first unit of the Polish Armed Forces to undergo the rearmament process involving the Borsuk, as well as the first to transition its entire fleet to the new K2 tanks.

 

Negotiations are currently underway regarding a second executive agreement, which is expected to significantly increase the number of vehicles ordered and produced. Production is being handled by Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), whose manufacturing capacity is steadily expanding.

 

In addition to the infantry fighting vehicles themselves, plans also call for the acquisition of "support vehicles" for the Borsuk, which will fulfill specialized roles within mechanized brigades. In this phase of the program, a key element will be dialogue between HSW and the Military Automotive Works (WZM) in Poznań, as there is a realistic prospect that the newly established Greater Poland Armored Center will take over the production of this specific portion of the order.

 

The Polish Armaments Group also identifies significant export potential for the Borsuk program. Currently, the Polish variants of the vehicles are integrated with the highly advanced—and consequently expensive—Polish ZSSW-30 turret system. Therefore, to enhance competitiveness in foreign markets, configurations featuring lower-cost turret systems—such as the Slovak TURRA turret—are being considered; this would allow the offer to be better tailored to the financial capabilities and operational requirements of international clients.

The 16th Division will be the first fully modernized division of the Polish Armed Forces.

 

The 16th Division is the first unit of the Polish Armed Forces to undergo the re-equipment process involving the Borsuk IFVs, as well as the first to fully transition to the new K2 main battle tanks procured under the first two executive contracts (totaling 360 units). Given that the division is simultaneously being re-equipped with new artillery and missile systems, it is reasonable to conclude that, in the near future, it will become the first fully modernized and reorganized division within the Polish Armed Forces.

 

In the case of the second unit currently undergoing intensive modernization—the 18th Mechanized Division—this process is likely to take longer. While the process of equipping the force with new American Abrams tanks is slowly drawing to a close—much like the modernization of its artillery—the plan to field new heavy infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) means that the mechanized battalions' vehicle fleets will have to wait a while longer for their new platforms. It is to be hoped that these will be the Polish CBWP Ratel vehicles, a prototype of which (or, at the very least, a full-scale mockup) we should see as early as this autumn at the trade fair in Kielce.

Polish IFVs to Serve as the Pillar of Mechanized Forces

 

Today, the Borsuk stands as one of the key pillars in the restructuring of the mechanized forces. In practical terms, it enables the replacement of the aging BWP-1 fleet with light, amphibious vehicles featuring STANAG 4-level frontal armor (providing protection against heavy machine gun armor-piercing rounds and artillery fragments) and STANAG 3-level side armor (an enhanced level of ballistic protection shielding the crew against armor-piercing ammunition and artillery fragments), along with resistance to mines and improvised explosive devices—factors that significantly boost the survivability of both the crew and the dismounted infantry.

 

In its baseline version, the Borsuk has a combat weight of approximately 28 tons; in a configuration with additional armor, this figure rises to about 30 tons. The vehicle measures 7.6 meters in length and 3.4 meters in width. The standard crew consists of three soldiers plus six dismounted infantrymen, while armament is provided by the ZSSW-30 turret, featuring a 30mm Bushmaster cannon, a 7.62mm machine gun, and Spike LR missile launchers.

 

In contrast, the planned heavy infantry fighting vehicle (CBWP Ratel) is expected to weigh approximately 42–48 tons—significantly more than the Borsuk—which automatically entails foregoing amphibious capabilities. In this instance, the focus has shifted to heavier armor, enhanced protective features (including the capability to integrate active protection systems, such as Trophy), and full interoperability with Abrams tanks within the 18th Mechanized Division.

 

The Ratel is expected to retain a three-person crew and carry 6–8 dismounted infantrymen. As its primary armament, it will receive the same ZSSW-30 turret as the Borsuk, though potentially in a variant equipped with a 40mm cannon, which would provide significantly greater firepower when engaging armored targets. We will likely learn the specific configuration of this vehicle as early as this autumn, during the MSPO trade fair in Kielce.

The 16th Division is to be capable, should the need arise, of seizing the Kaliningrad Oblast during WWII-like activities."

 

Why are Polish generals preparing to fight in WWII-like activities? This is known rule – military is always preparing to fight the last war it was fighting. The generals are old. They never heard of drone and missile swarms that keep American Navy from approaching Iran’s shore. Iran utilizes a cost-effective anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) strategy in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, employing fast-attack boat swarms, coastal missiles, and low-cost surveillance/attack drones to challenge US Navy, often forcing ships to re-evaluate proximity to the coast. These swarms can overwhelm traditional defenses, per analysis on The Jerusalem Post.

Ukrainos konfliktas dabar yra Vakarų Europos problema – ES patvirtino paskolas, skirtas padėti Kijevui išsilaikyti, tačiau to gali nepakakti

Kova su Rusija Ukrainoje dabar yra tvirtas Vakarų Europos bandymas.

 

Praėjusią savaitę Europos Sąjunga pasirašė 105 mlrd. dolerių vertės paskolų sutartį, skirtą Kijevui išsilaikyti iki kitų metų pabaigos, tačiau pareigūnai perspėjo, kad to gali nepakakti.

 

Rusijai pasiryžus tęsti savo ketverių metų veiklą, kol ji ims dominuoti kaimyninėje šalyje, o prezidentui Trumpui atsitraukiant nuo Europos ir sutelkiant dėmesį į Artimuosius Rytus, Ukraina kovoje už išlikimą tampa priklausoma nuo tradiciškai atsargios ES.

 

Paskolos patvirtinimas prieš ketvirtadienį Kipre įvykusį viršūnių susitikimą, kurį ilgai blokavo neseniai nušalintas Vengrijos ministras pirmininkas Viktoras Orbanas, buvo naujas ryžto ir vienybės ženklas bloke.

 

„Pirmą kartą per daugelį metų kambaryje nėra rusų“, – socialiniuose tinkluose parašė Lenkijos ministras pirmininkas Donaldas Tuskas, akivaizdžiai turėdamas omenyje Orbaną, kuris palaikė šiltus ryšius su Maskva, bet nedalyvavo ES viršūnių susitikime po neseniai pralaimėtų rinkimų. „Didžiulis palengvėjimas“, – pridūrė Tuskas.

 

Finansavimo sprendimas, kurį Orbanas patvirtino praėjusią savaitę po pralaimėjimo rinkimuose, priimtas kritiniu metu Ukrainai, kuriai reikia pinigų savo ekonomikai ir kariuomenei palaikyti Rusijos puolimo metu, nes Maskva siekia užgrobti daugiau rusų gyvenamų žemių savo kaimynės rytuose. Kijevas dabar priklauso nuo savo vakarinių kaimynų pinigų, kad sustiprintų savo biudžetą ir finansuotų ginklų pirkimą, kuris padėtų jam atlaikyti milžinišką Rusijos kariuomenę. Trumpo administracija nutraukė karinės pagalbos teikimą Ukrainai ir siekė tarpininkauti konflikto užbaigimui.

 

Ukrainos prezidentas Volodymyras Zelenskis teigė, kad ES finansavimas gali paskatinti Rusiją derybų link. „Tai reiškia, kad mes nesame tušti, o esame stiprūs.“

 

Paskola buvo suteikta po neseniai paskelbtų pranešimų, kad Ukraina bendrai gamins ginklus sąjungininkėse Europos šalyse, įskaitant Vokietiją, Daniją, Norvegiją ir Jungtinę Karalystę.

 

Karo naštos perkėlimas ant Europos pečių jau seniai yra Trumpo administracijos tikslas. Viceprezidentas J. D. Vance'as sakė, kad finansavimo Ukrainai sustabdymas yra „vienas iš dalykų, kuriais labiausiai didžiuojuosi“.

 

Vis dėlto, paklaustas, ar Europos paskola yra ženklas, kad Ukrainai nebereikia JAV, Zelenskis teigė, kad jo šaliai reikia visos įmanomos pagalbos.

 

„Konflikto metu mums reikia visko ir visų“, – ketvirtadienį sakė jis, eidamas į susitikimą su Europos lyderiais. „Mums reikia Jungtinių Valstijų.“

 

JAV tiekia Kijevui itin svarbius oro perėmėjus, kad šis galėtų numušti Rusijos balistines raketas.

 

Jos taip pat aprūpina Ukrainos kariuomenę mūšio lauko žvalgyba. Europa negali pakeisti šių pajėgumų.

 

Nors Bideno administracija tiesiogiai tiekė Ukrainai karinę įrangą, Europos šalys perka ginklus iš JAV ir siunčia juos Ukrainai.

 

Zelenskis išreiškė susirūpinimą, kad JAV kariuomenės ginklų, ypač perėmėjų, naudojimas Artimuosiuose Rytuose eikvoja Ukrainai reikalingas atsargas.

 

Pasak Ukrainos gynybos ministro Mychailo Fedorovo, šį mėnesį vykusiame Ukrainą remiančių šalių susitikime Kijevas užsitikrino 4 mlrd. dolerių vertės naujų gynybos įsipareigojimų iš Vokietijos. Susitarimuose daugiausia dėmesio skirta oro gynybai, dronams ir bendrai gynybos gamybai.

 

Zelenskis sugriežtino toną JAV atžvilgiu. Ukrainos lyderis ketvirtadienį pareiškė, kad tikisi, jog JAV pasiuntiniai Jaredas Kushneris ir Steve'as Witkoffas apsilankys Kijeve. Neatvykti būtų „nepagarbu“, atsižvelgiant į tai, kad jie lankėsi Maskvoje, sakė jis neseniai duotame interviu Ukrainos žiniasklaidai.

 

„Šiuo metu mums įvykiai Ukrainoje yra svarbiausias klausimas. Amerikiečiams karas Irane yra svarbiausias klausimas“, – ketvirtadienį žurnalistams per „WhatsApp“ sakė Zelenskis.

 

Nors 90 milijardų eurų (105 milijardų JAV dolerių) paskola išsprendžia užsitęsusį mūšį Briuselyje, nerimaujama, kad blokas turės persvarstyti Ukrainos finansavimą kitais metais, o ne 2028 m., kaip buvo tikėtasi.

 

ES paskola turėjo padengti du trečdalius Ukrainos pagrindinio biudžeto ir gynybos finansavimo poreikių šiais ir kitais metais. Diplomatų teigimu, Japonija ir Vakarų šalys, tokios kaip JK, derasi dėl numatomų 45 milijardų eurų, reikalingų iki 2027 m. pabaigos, suteikimo, tačiau jokie pinigai dar nėra užblokuoti.

 

Be to, diplomatai teigė, kad Ukrainos finansavimo trūkumas kitais metais išaugo nuo tada, kai iš pradžių buvo planuojamas paskolų paketas. Jų teigimu, Ukrainai reikia papildomų 19 milijardų eurų, kad padengtų savo kitų metų biudžeto poreikius. Tai reiškia, kad ES lyderiams po 12 mėnesių gali tekti vėl ieškoti naujos dešimčių milijardų eurų paskolos.

 

Pastaraisiais mėnesiais ES susidūrė su keletu iššūkių, įskaitant santykių su Trumpo administracija krizę ir naują energijos kainų šuolį, kurį sukėlė karas su Iranu. Nacionalistinės partijos Prancūzijoje ir Vokietijoje ragina nutraukti Ukrainos finansavimą. Bet koks naujų lėšų Ukrainai skyrimas kitais metais susidurs su Prancūzijos prezidento rinkimais.

 

Tuo tarpu Ukrainos pažanga, siekiant ES narystės buvo lėta. Briuselio pareigūnai siūlė Ukrainai kai kuriuos narystės privalumus ateinančiais metais kaip simbolinį žingsnį stojimo link. Tačiau Zelenskis šią idėją atmetė. „Ukrainai nereikia simbolinės narystės ES. Ukraina gina save ir neabejotinai gina Europą. Ir ji negina Europos simboliškai – žmonės iš tikrųjų miršta.“ [1]

 

Iš tikrųjų, amerikiečiai vis dar kovoja – tiekia ginklus, padengtus Vakarų europiečių pinigais. Amerikiečiai taip pat taikosi tais ginklais. Zelenskio žmonės spaudžia tą didelį raudoną mygtuką tik tada, kai sakoma, kad spaustų. „Didysis raudonas mygtukas“ (vadovavimo kontrolė): Ukraina labai pasikliauja Amerikos žvalgyba taikiniams. Vakarų europiečiai nesugeba prisitaikyti.

 

1. World News: The Ukraine War Is Europe's Now --- The EU approved loans to help keep Kyiv afloat -- but it might not be enough. Kim Mackrael; Malenko, Anastasiia; Norman, Laurence.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 25 Apr 2026: A7.