Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that to ensure budget stability and support the country’s defense sector, Ukraine requires external financing totaling approximately $65 billion in 2025. According to him, about $40 billion is needed to cover the state budget deficit, while an additional $25 billion is required for the development of defense production, including missiles, drones, and electronic warfare systems.
This is reported by Business • Media
Funding for Security and Defense Capability
The head of state noted that he has already begun consultations with the leadership of the European Union, the USA, NATO, France, and the United Kingdom regarding the possibilities of attracting the necessary funds. The president emphasized the importance of financial support for the Ukrainian army, as he believes it is a key factor in protecting not only Ukraine but also the security of all of Europe.
“There is also a future program for financing our army. This is part of Ukraine’s defense capability and part of the security of all of Europe. Previously, Europeans refused to provide money for our military’s salaries, only for weapons. But it turns out that our military can be precisely that weapon that protects everyone,” the president explained.
Expert Assessments of Real Needs
Investment analyst at Concorde Capital, Oleksandr Parashiy, expressed the opinion that Ukraine’s actual needs for external financing could reach even higher levels. In his view, to fully cover all military and budget expenditures in 2025-2026, the country will need about $90 billion, which corresponds to the figures of 2024.
Thus, the issue of attracting sufficient international assistance remains crucial in the context of ensuring the resilience of the Ukrainian economy and defense capability amid ongoing aggression from the Russian Federation.