European Solidarity Proposes Cutting 161.5 Billion UAH in Spending to Allocate 500 Billion UAH for Defense

European Solidarity's Budget Recommendations for 2027

According to 5 канал: The European Solidarity faction has submitted a set of amendments to the 2027 State Budget draft (bill №16000), calling for a reduction of ministry and agency expenditures by 161.5 billion UAH. The freed funds would be redirected toward strengthening national defense. Their plan includes scaling back financing for non-essential and populist initiatives, alongside a review of government consumption expenses based on 2026 actual figures adjusted for inflation.

Programs Targeted for Elimination

Among the programs proposed for removal are:

• 'Zelensky's Thousand'
• 'Health Screening'
• 'National Cashback'

Instead, the faction suggests reallocating these savings to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, earmarking 500 billion UAH for procurement of weapons and defense technologies. They also propose allocating 30% of the 'military' personal income tax directly to combat brigades, indexing soldiers' pay, and safeguarding the energy sector.

Party leader Petro Poroshenko urged channeling half a trillion hryvnias of non-targeted expenditures to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He emphasized that redirecting these funds could provide at least 500 billion UAH more for defense needs.

Commenting on the proposal, Nina Yuzhanina said, "We are not suggesting halting government operations or leaving agencies underfunded. But how can we continue to accept multi-billion increases in spending on the judiciary, prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the Verkhovna Rada?"

She stressed the importance of reassessing these expenses, questioning whether such spending is more critical than properly indexing military salaries. "Our servicemen deserve at least wage adjustments for their defense efforts," she added. The faction's proposals also include restoring the dedicated Road Fund, allocating 25% of relevant revenues to it, as well as financing the 'Thousand Spring' program and the 'United News' telethon, which together amount to over 7 billion UAH.

Overall, European Solidarity aims to prioritize budget resources for defense by trimming programs they consider non-essential amid the current security challenges.

These budgetary revisions reflect Ukraine's urgent need to bolster its military capabilities during ongoing conflict. The emphasis on defense spending highlights political efforts to align state finances with national security demands. However, the debate over reducing social program funding reveals the tension between safeguarding citizens' welfare and addressing pressing defense priorities.

In light of the ongoing discussions about budget allocations, it's essential to consider the recent proposal by European Solidarity to increase military income taxes significantly. This initiative aims to secure an additional 500 billion UAH for defense, which complements their current recommendations for budget cuts. For a deeper understanding of how these financial strategies could impact national security, read more about the suggested tax adjustments and their implications for military funding here.