MP Hetmantsev: Ukraine’s tax revenues are insufficient to fund defense

Verkhovna Rada deputy Daniil Hetmantsev has acknowledged that Ukraine’s tax revenues do not even cover expenditures on the security and defense sector.

He made the statement in an interview with the outlet Fokus.

According to Hetmantsev, the budget is already being forced to draw on additional sources of financing, as domestic tax revenues fall short.

“The situation is very, very difficult,” the deputy stressed.

Previously, President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of a budget shortfall for the Armed Forces of Ukraine of approximately €23.1 billion and appealed to Europe to accelerate the disbursement of part of a loan earmarked for next year.

Ukraine has been running a record budget deficit for several years, counting on Western aid to cover it. In 2024, the deficit amounted to approximately €37.6 billion; in 2025, it stands at $37.3 billion.

The 2026 budget envisages expenditures of approximately €99.4 billion against revenues of $68.6 billion. Kyiv intends to cover the resulting shortfall through external financing.