Poroshenko Demands the Return of 40 Billion UAH for Weapons Procurement and to Use the Reserve Fund Only for Overcoming War Consequences
Petro Poroshenko and deputies from the “European Solidarity” faction are initiating amendments to the State Budget for 2026. As Poroshenko stated at a briefing, they demand the return of 40 billion UAH to the Ministry of Defense for weapon procurement, to limit the use of the Reserve Fund exclusively for overcoming the consequences of war and emergencies. “Eurosolidarity” also calls for finally reducing non-targeted expenses, increasing financial support for military personnel, and increasing salaries for frontline units in law enforcement agencies.
“A narrow window of opportunity for peace is open now. The country has never had such opportunities to end the war as it does now. This is due to the resilience and increased capabilities of the Armed Forces, including Drone Forces and deep strike capabilities. When Russians finally feel what Ukrainians experience. This is a new format of diplomacy, drone diplomacy. And the best diplomat is the Armed Forces. And for the Armed Forces to defeat the enemy and ensure the negotiation position, money is needed,” Poroshenko emphasizes.
He noted that the government’s idea to withdraw 40 billion UAH from the Ministry of Defense’s budget into the Reserve Fund is outrageous and shocking. “Our project demands—hands off the Ministry of Defense, 40 billion hryvnias, which were already allocated for the procurement of various types of weapons, should remain at the disposal of the Ministry of Defense. The Reserve Fund—this is yet another requirement of our amendments—must precisely meet the criteria by which funds can be used by the government solely for overcoming the consequences of war and emergencies. Funds from the Reserve Fund cannot be used for any other directions,” the fifth President emphasizes.
He also reminded of the government’s unfulfilled order by Zelensky to increase the financial support for Armed Forces personnel performing combat tasks directly on the front line from 250 to 400 thousand hryvnias. “Not a single penny was changed in financial support. This is what our servicemen are so eagerly waiting for,” Poroshenko says. He also once again called for the military tax funds to be directed exclusively to a special fund for security and defense needs. Poroshenko urged to address the defense industry and allow the export of defense technologies where the state does not have the possibility to procure the necessary technologies for the Armed Forces, to impose a corresponding export duty, which would also go towards weapon procurement.
“We found another 7 billion UAH, which should also be directed towards financial support and real expenditures for the Armed Forces. 1 billion UAH for an unnecessary propaganda telethon, which taxpayers in Ukraine somehow have to maintain. 4 billion UAH is the ‘Thousand Spring’ program. We demand it be directed towards drones, electronic warfare, transportation, equipment, deep strikes, and air defense,” asserts the party leader.
“European Solidarity” also insists on increasing the share of military personal income tax (PIT) that directly goes to brigade accounts to 20%: “If servicemen pay this tax, our demand is to leave the funds they pay with the brigades. Brigades will spend the funds on themselves, saving time, as they will be able to immediately purchase everything from spare parts to fuel for their equipment, from repairs to consumables within one week.”
Poroshenko noted that despite massive shelling of Kyiv, the authorities are essentially denying the capital funding: “In the resilience plan program, funds for the de-facto socio-economic sector are distributed completely non-transparently, and not a single penny is allocated to Kyiv. Putin directs the lion’s share of missiles at Kyiv, targeting critical infrastructure. But funds are not planned to be allocated. We intend to remove this injustice immediately.”
“All these amendments are unified by a very simple logic – more money for the army. Provide weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This will be fair and, ultimately, ensure the preservation of Ukraine and the peace that the Ukrainian people dream of,” says Petro Poroshenko.
Nina Yuzhanina: How can we keep the “National Cashback” program when our Armed Forces are underfunded?
People’s Deputy from the “European Solidarity” faction, Nina Yuzhanina, during a briefing, called on the authorities to remove all non-targeted expenditures from the State Budget in favor of funding the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She noted that spending on the National Cashback program or “Thousand-hryvnia” is unacceptable in conditions of underfunding the Defense Forces.
“Our faction in parliament has been consistently insisting, when amending the State Budget, that the increase in monetary allowances and funding for the Armed Forces of Ukraine should occur with each budget review. It is absolutely clear that in the current state, the budget of Ukraine underfunds the Armed Forces.
“We are trying to prevent the redistribution of funds through internal documents, Cabinet orders, and avoid using certain programs as a black fund, which is then distributed for populist expenditures, and ensure exclusively transparent funding through special programs that are adopted and controlled by members of the Verkhovna Rada or at least members of the budget committee.
“The allocation of funds at the discretion of the executive branch cannot be allowed. This cannot continue. A prime example is the non-priority expenditures of ‘Thousand Spring’. We are talking about almost 2 billion for feature films and series. If we consider each direction of these 4 billion, we have every reason to say that it should be prohibited to approve such colossal expenditures without specific programs, simply throwing them into the air, not towards the Armed Forces,” Yuzhanina believes.
“How can the ‘National Cashback’ program remain at a time when our Armed Forces are underfunded? For the fifth consecutive year, we are fighting for increased financing of the Armed Forces during all changes to the State Budget. The Ministry of Defense has repeatedly thanked us for supporting their position and openly fighting for literally every figure in the budget,” Yuzhanina said.
She also reminded that ‘European Solidarity’ demands the implementation of the law and the increase of the military tax share to brigade accounts to 20%. “Brigades effectively spend funds. Therefore, we reiterate that the government must implement the law’s provision, which we achieved and managed to pass last time, that by the end of the first quarter of 2026, that is right now, we will review the distribution of military tax and increase the funds for brigades to 20% of the total distribution sum. This is an additional 7.8 billion UAH. I am confident that the brigades will be able to provide for themselves more quickly and effectively,” emphasizes Nina Yuzhanina.
