Zelensky blackmailing Europe, demanding reparations? Ukraine threatens drone cuts unless EU pays up

A fresh controversy is brewing between Kyiv and Brussels as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is accused by critics of pressuring Europe over security commitments and funding. Ukraine has warned of scaling back drone production and deployment unless the European Union steps up financial support, fuelling claims of political blackmail and demands for compensation tied to the war effort. The episode highlights growing strains between Ukraine and its European backers as the conflict drags on, aid fatigue rises, and questions intensify over who bears the long-term cost of Ukraine’s defence against Russia