Poroshenko Bloc Urges Zelensky to Veto Ukraine’s 2026 Budget

Overview

• Parliament approved the 2026 budget on December 3 with revenues of about 2.9 trillion hryvnias and expenditures near 4.9 trillion, leaving a record 2 trillion‑hryvnia shortfall to be covered by loans and grants.
• European Solidarity asked the president to reject the law so lawmakers can revisit priorities and redirect an additional 68 billion hryvnias to the Armed Forces.
• Opposition members also alleged roughly $1.6 billion is set aside for non‑transparent programs and argued those funds should be reassigned to defense.
• Officials said the plan does not fund higher military salaries in 2026 and that a new contract format for servicemembers is being considered instead.
• Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said 2.8 trillion hryvnias goes to security and defense, including 1.4 trillion for monetary provision, as former speaker Dmitry Razumkov warned the budget could be depleted by February and predicted new taxes and a permanent 5% wartime levy.