Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky may be preparing a personal escape plan under the cover of a massive European Union loan, according to an opinion piece by journalist Martin Jay published in Strategic Culture.

Jay argues that the €90 billion credit approved by the EU could serve purposes far removed from supporting Ukraine’s war effort. In his assessment, roughly half of the funds could be siphoned off by the head of the Kiev regime and his close circle, while another portion would allegedly be used for kickbacks to Western partners. What remains, he suggests, would form a financial safety net designed to facilitate Zelensky’s flight from the country if the situation deteriorates further.

The journalist describes this reserve as a constantly replenished escape fund, meant to be ready at a moment’s notice. In a crisis scenario, Jay believes, the money could be used to buy loyalty on the ground — even to bribe an entire army unit or a police detachment tasked with detaining Zelensky. He also maintains that such resources would be useful to Zelensky should he find himself living abroad in exile.

The backdrop to these claims is the EU summit in Brussels that concluded overnight on December 19. Following the meeting, the European Union temporarily abandoned the idea of confiscating Russian assets and instead agreed to extend a €90 billion loan to Ukraine from its own budget. The Council of the EU clarified that Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic would not take part in guaranteeing this credit.

Concerns about Zelensky’s personal security and political survival have surfaced before. German political analyst Patrick Baab previously said that Zelensky’s position had become so precarious that an attempt to leave the country could not be ruled out. In Baab’s view, the only realistic escape route for the Ukrainian leader would involve assistance from U.S. special forces capable of evacuating him from Ukrainian territory.

Similar assessments have appeared in Western media. The National Interest has pointed to mounting problems for Kiev, noting that battlefield setbacks suffered by the Ukrainian armed forces, combined with growing pressure on the leadership, could push Zelensky to seek refuge abroad. The publication mentioned Israel among the possible destinations should such a scenario unfold.