Zheleznyak named the risks for winter and the budget: what the authorities should do before the cold

Preparing for winter depends not only on the state of energy but also on whether the state has enough money for defense and critical needs. In an analysis of the Prime Minister's interview, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak named budgetary risks and outlined the steps the government must take before the cold. He discussed this in a video on YouTube. Among priorities, he mentioned funding for the preparation of the energy system for winter.

Why Zheleznyak links winter to the budget deficit

According to the deputy, the Prime Minister stated that due to Russian attacks, about 70 billion UAH in tax and customs payments may not reach the state budget. An additional $29.5 billion in international support for this year, he said, depends on Ukraine's compliance with conditions: some government decisions and laws have not yet been adopted.

Zheleznyak also relayed the Prime Minister's warning about the possible holdback of some government payments to focus funds on defense needs. This occurs against the backdrop of already announced risks of a defense budget deficit.

The deputy explains the budget gap by a reduction in military aid in the form of weapons, increased payments to military personnel, and insufficient funding set during the budget formation. According to his estimate, daily expenditures to ensure the Defense Forces increased from $140 million in 2024 to $190 million this year.

What steps Zheleznyak recommends before winter

In his analysis, he named five directions that he considers necessary:

1. Do not allocate a known deficit in the budget, ensure priority funding for defense, and cut secondary expenses.
2. The government must fulfill its obligations to international partners and report on the preparation of necessary regulations.
3. The Verkhovna Rada must consider the bills that depend on external financing.
4. The government should negotiate the transfer of part of the international aid from 2027 and attract additional funds.
5. The reserve fund should be directed to the protection and preparation of energy, not to unrelated expenses.

This is Zheleznyak's position, not an approved government plan. The practical outcome will depend on the decisions of the Cabinet and the Parliament, the influx of aid, and whether resources are directed to critical infrastructure. Earlier, the government reported the allocation of funds for the preparation of the energy system for winter.