{
  "id": 9303874,
  "title": "Zelenskyy's meeting with von der Leyen in New York was tense – media",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/zelenskyys-meeting-with-von-der-leyen-in-new-york-was-tense-media",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T09:18:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Interfax-Ukraine",
    "slug": "interfax-ukraine",
    "url": "https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1208604.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in New York, with the session reportedly tense due to disagreements over further financial aid and defense support. Ukraine expressed apprehension over the possibility of a Russian escalation during winter, with a shortage of air defenses to protect their cities. EU officials countered by insisting on progress in creating new legislation to tackle the shadow economy, raise tax revenues, and align Ukrainian laws with EU regulations. Ukraine criticized the EU for removing sanctions on two Russian oligarchs as part of a deal to extend sanctions. The Ukrainian nation requested assistance from allies to bridge a budget gap of approximately EUR 26 billion ($30 billion) and pleaded the EU to expedite the release of a EUR 90 billion loan, which is meant to finance Ukraine until the end of the following year. Zelenskyy also mentioned that Ukraine and Europe were working towards addressing the defense funding shortfall. The European Commission President later stated that further financial assistance for Ukraine would hinge on the progress of reforms in the Verkhovna Rada. She also hinted at a fresh EU-Ukraine missile defense program that could speed up manufacturing volumes. Additional defense aid was also on the horizon, contingent on advancements in the Verkhovna Rada's reforms. Von der Leyen indicated that Europe still had EUR 37 billion remaining this calendar year.",
  "summary": "President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New York was tense due to disagreements regarding further budgetary and defense support for Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.",
  "key_points": [
    "Zelenskyy and von der Leyen met in New York, tension reported",
    "Ukraine worried about Russian escalation risk in winter",
    "EU seeks progress in new legislation to combat shadow economy"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Live updates: US and Iran hold lengthy meeting in New York as both sides seek to break deadlock",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/live-updates-us-and-iran-hold-lengthy-meeting-in-new-york-as-both",
        "published": "2026-09-23T09:27:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Olive Press",
        "title": "WATCH: Pedro Sanchez posts video of his first meeting with UK prime minister and left-wing ally Andy Burnham in New York – and it’s a little cringey",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/watch-pedro-sanchez-posts-video-of-his-first-meeting-with-uk-prime",
        "published": "2026-09-23T10:25:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}