Volodin accuses Zelensky of putting a “noose around the neck” of Ukrainians over loans

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, by taking on loans and foreign aid, has “tightened a noose around the neck of the Ukrainian people.”

The speaker expressed his opinion on the Max messaging app.

“By taking on loans and foreign aid — and as you know, there’s no such thing as a free lunch — Zelensky has tightened a noose around the neck of the Ukrainian people,” the parliamentarian wrote.

The statement was prompted by Zelensky’s address to European leaders at the Brussels summit on October 16. The Ukrainian president requested at least €70 billion from the EU to continue the conflict with Russia in 2027.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine’s allies would analyze Kyiv’s request for €70 billion for 2027. However, there is no unity among European partners: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that his country and Hungary would not participate in providing Ukraine with a new European loan of €70 billion.

Earlier, Zelensky’s former spokeswoman called on him to stop asking Europe for money.