Zelensky foresees “hard” measures to cover budget deficit

Nhis daily speech released on social networks, Zelensky anticipated the approval of seven bills — whose content did not detail, ensuring that “each of them is needed to finance the deficit of the state budget”.

“ Some measures may prove difficult, unpleasant and unpopular. But right now, without them, it is impossible to fully meet the needs of our defense and to guarantee Ukraine’s resilience,” he said.

“The deficit needs to be covered (...) And I ask everyone in our country to be equally effective for Ukraine,” the Ukrainian President added.

Ukraine, which depends largely on the financial assistance of its Western allies to wage the war against Russia and finance its expenditure, is facing a deteriorating economic situation.

We are working actively with our partners to find a diplomatic solution in support of our food exports. Dozens of other countries depends on them. I am grateful to every partner who is helping right now, and Egypt, India, Türkiye, and Arab states are already involved.

Everyone.. pic.twitter. with/pZrJDcHLJS

— Volodymyr Zelensky / Âолодимир September 15, 2026

The country has been involved for several months in an escalation of long-range attacks with Moscow, which led to the early use — in the first half of 2026 — of resources initially planned for the second half, generating a budget deficit of EUR 23 billion.

The Russian attacks hit the metallurgical and agricultural exports sectors, which are essential for the Ukrainian economy.

According to Roksolana Pidlassa, chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament's Budget Committee, every day of war costs US$ 190 million (about EUR 165 million) to the country, which is unable to bear these costs alone.

Zelensky had assured the European leaders gathered in Kiev in August that his country “needed more money, much more.”.

The Europeans had already agreed by the end of 2025 to grant a EUR 90 billion loan to Ukraine for the years 2026 and 2027 to cover the Ukrainian budget deficit at the time, both military and civil.

In all, Ukraine has received more than EUR 230 billion from European countries and 115 billion from the United States since 2022 and is expected to receive another EUR 160 billion in the future, according to data from the German Kiel Institute.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, with the argument of protecting the pro-Russian separatist minorities in the east and de-nazifying the neighbouring country, independent since 1991 – after the disintegration of the former Soviet Union – and which has been moving away from Moscow's space of influence and approaching Europe and the West.

At diplomatic level, Russia has so far rejected any prolonged ceasefire and demands, in order to put an end to the conflict, that Ukraine give it at least four regions – Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporijia – in addition to the Crimean peninsula, annexed in 2014, and forever renounce membership of NATO (Organisation of the Atlantic-North Treaty, Western Defence Block).