Ukraine lacks $27 billion for defense: Koretsky explained where they will look for the money

Ukraine is $27 billion short of defense budget needs. The government plans to find about $7 billion domestically, and is working out mechanisms for attracting the remaining $20 billion together with international partners.

This was announced by Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky.

According to him, the government plans to secure about $7 billion through austerity measures in public finances. This includes optimizing spending, redistributing expenditures, and other measures.

At the same time, the financial support of military personnel and the support of their families must be fully funded.

For the remaining $20 billion , the government, together with partners, is looking for mechanisms and sources of financing. These funds are needed, in particular, for the purchase of drones, missiles, equipment, and other support for the Defense Forces.

“Now the task of the Government – the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance – is to work out in detail, directly with our partners, how we can close these programs,” Koretsky said.

Some of the additional financing is needed in the near future to prepay for deliveries that are due to arrive in the first quarter of 2027.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that pensions, salaries of doctors and teachers must be paid on time and in full. At the same time, expenditures that are not priority and critical may be suspended until funds are received from partners.

Recall, earlier “Pryamiy” wrote that the Ministry of Defense is considering several options for covering the deficit of $27 billion . Among them are the early withdrawal of part of the European loan and additional assistance from other states.

In addition, European partners previously discussed Ukraine’s declared defense budget deficit , and one of the possible mechanisms was called accelerating payments from the agreed EU loan of 90 billion euros.

Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , X , Telegram , and Instagram .