Military budget deficit reaches 27 billion dollars against a need of $155 billion
The scale of financial challenges facing the state system requires a radical restructuring of approaches to revenue and expenditure generation. Materials from Glavcom indicate that in 2026 the total cost of providing for the war effort is estimated at 155 billion dollars. This figure covers not only the direct expenditure part of the state budget, but also the cost of international assistance in weapons, equipment, and aviation.
A gap that requires urgent decisions from all branches of government has already been recorded in the current financial framework. The significant transformation of fiscal reality is evidenced by the fact that the state has shifted priorities from social payments to combating wartime inflation and covering critical shortages of funds.
Deficit of $27 billion and domestic sources
Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi stated that the state currently lacks 27 billion dollars to cover basic needs. According to him, the government plans to accumulate about 7 billion dollars inside the country through expenditure optimization, savings, and resource reallocation. The remaining 20 billion dollars must become the subject of complex negotiations with external donors.
The situation is complicated by significant risks regarding already planned aid. Serhii Koretskyi emphasized that another 29.5 billion dollars of external support is under threat of blockage — these funds will arrive only if Ukraine fully fulfills its previously assumed obligations to partners.
Ministry of Finance assessment
While officials are searching for external and internal reserves, domestic fiscal bodies demonstrate stable performance indicators for current plans. According to operational data as of September 30, cited in the report of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine in its official Telegram channel, 192.7 billion hryvnias entered the general fund of the state budget in September 2026.
Fiscal and customs bodies provided the lion’s share of these revenues. As stated in the Ministry of Finance report, the State Tax Service transferred 78.2 billion hryvnias to the general fund, and the State Customs Service channeled 73.3 billion hryvnias, which made it possible to form the baseline tax resource of September.
Brussels warnings and the electoral factor
At the same time, the international trend of attracting additional funds encounters a restrained reaction from partners. According to Le Monde, following a meeting of representatives of the European Commission, G7, IMF, Norway, and South Korea on September 29, Ukraine’s new request for financial assistance does not find quick approval in Brussels due to internal political circumstances in the European Union.
European diplomats point to the complex process of agreeing on the EU’s multiannual budget for 2028-2034, which, although it provides 100 billion euros for Ukraine, faces pressure from Germany and other countries demanding expenditure cuts. The situation is exacerbated by upcoming electoral campaigns in 2027 in France, Spain, Poland, and Italy, where poll leader Marine Le Pen has already stated her intention to stop financing Kyiv in case of victory.
Expectations of calculations and parliamentary procedures
Currently, European institutions are refraining from unambiguous promises and expect detailed calculations from the Ukrainian side. The next rounds of discussions involving EU finance ministers are scheduled for October 9, and the European Council summit will address this issue in mid-October.
In the context of these challenges, the speed of decision-making by Ukrainian legislators is of key importance. Despite the obvious need for immediate budget adjustments, the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada plans to convene MPs for a session only on October 12.
Context of budget decisions
Recall that earlier the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine was already forced to respond to financial challenges through the strict prioritization of expenditures. In particular, the government approved a clear hierarchy of state spending, where defense needs, pension payments, and salaries for public sector workers are defined as top priorities.
Illustrative photo: Steven Lek / CC BY-SA 4.0
