A defense deficit of 23 billion euros has arisen in Ukraine's budget
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will this week consider seven draft laws related to financing the state budget deficit and attracting billions of dollars in funds from international partners. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that some decisions may be "difficult, unpleasant, and unpopular."
A deficit of 23 billion euros has arisen in Ukraine's budget for defense
On September 15, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that seven draft laws necessary to cover the state budget deficit had been included in the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada. Most of them are planned to be considered in the first reading.
Zelenskyy said that the adoption of these documents is directly linked to Ukraine receiving financial assistance from international partners. He emphasized that positive votes would allow the country to attract billions of dollars in funds.
The President also admitted that some initiatives might be "difficult, unpleasant, and unpopular." According to him, in the current situation, such decisions are necessary to meet defense needs and preserve the country's recovery capabilities.
According to official data from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the country's budget faced a deficit of nearly 23 billion euros in financing security and defense expenditures.
The main ways to cover the deficit are considered to be receiving direct aid in the form of weapons from partner countries and attracting international financial support.
According to the Rada, if the draft laws related to Ukraine's international obligations are supported by the parliament, the country could receive more than 12 billion dollars in the near future.
In August, Zelenskyy estimated the deficit of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine at 27 billion dollars — more than 23 billion euros. Kyiv is trying to attract these funds to finance military personnel and social payments, weapons purchases, and other defense needs.