Zelenskyy warns 20M Ukrainians could flee to Europe if Russia wins war
The stark warning comes as Kyiv heads into a brutal winter and faces a cash crunch.
On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that 20 million Ukrainians might be compelled to flee to Europe if Russia conquers his nation. Speaking at a summit of European Union leaders, Zelenskyy stated that Russians were "killing us" and "pushing" Ukrainians out of their country. "They [Russia] don’t want to stop," he added.
In the initial stages of Russia's full-scale invasion, millions of Ukrainians fled their homes, resulting in Europe's biggest refugee crisis since World War II. Currently, more than 4 million Ukrainians reside in EU nations under temporary protection, with the highest numbers in Germany, Poland, and Czechia, as reported by Eurostat.
Zelenskyy's dire prediction follows Ukraine's fifth winter of war against Russia. According to projections from the International Monetary Fund, Kyiv will face a budget gap of $30 to $35 million next year, even with a €90 billion loan pledged by Brussels last year. The Ukrainian president visited Brussels to meet with European leaders and secure financial assistance for his beleaguered country.
Although the EU is Ukraine's most supportive ally, the bloc's list of priorities includes rising energy costs, upcoming elections, geopolitical crises, and a deadlock over its €2 trillion budget.
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