People's Deputy Petro Poroshenko sharply criticised the government's draft amendments to the State Budget 2026, which withdraws UAH 40 billion from the Ministry of Defence. He stated that these funds were intended for the purchase of weapons and should not be redirected to the Reserve Fund. At the same time, Eurosolidarity is proposing an alternative draft law with a priority to support the military at the front.
Briefly about the main points
- Government withdraws UAH 40 billion from the Defence Ministry in favour of the Reserve Fund
- Poroshenko opposes such changes in the Verkhovna Rada
- The proposals include an increase in the military's salaries
- The reserve fund should be used only for disasters and Russian attacks
Poroshenko on withdrawal of funds from the Defence Ministry
Leader of the European Solidarity party« Petro Poroshenko criticised the government's draft amendments to the budget 2026, which provides for the removal of 40 billion UAH from the Ministry of Defence in favour of the Reserve Fund. He called this decision «not protecting the Ukrainian sky, but the mundane interests of the authorities». Poroshenko stressed that these funds were used to purchase weapons, and most MPs could not believe that they should be seized.
An alternative bill by Eurosolidarity«
The party has registered an alternative draft law No. 15224-4, which proposes to increase the salaries of the military on the front line and stop the misuse of budget funds. The key provisions of the draft law include the preservation of UAH 40 billion for armaments, the use of the Reserve Fund exclusively to overcome disasters and the consequences of Russian strikes, and the fulfilment of the presidential promise to increase the salaries of the Armed Forces to UAH 250-400 thousand.
Supporting the military and prioritising the frontline
Poroshenko noted that the salary increase for SBU and National Guard employees should apply exclusively to those who are directly at the front. The draft law also provides for an increase in the share of personal income tax that will go to the accounts of military brigades. These initiatives should increase material support for defence units.
Context and political implications
The amendments to the budget caused a wide response in the parliament and society, as the issue of defence funding remains a key one in the context of the ongoing war with Russia. Poroshenko's opposition position points to a heated debate over the priorities of public spending in 2026. The alternative project of Eurosolidarity emphasises the need for clear allocation of funds to support the Armed Forces and the country's security.
Next steps in the Verkhovna Rada
The government's draft budget amendments and alternative initiatives are currently being discussed. The parliament's decision will determine the state's future financial course for 2026 and will affect Ukraine's defence capabilities in its confrontation with the aggressor. The position of Poroshenko and his party is increasing pressure on the government to reconsider budget spending priorities.
