Ukraine's financial resources have been exhausted to their limits, raising the possibility of delays to social benefit payments, according to Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko.
Addressing the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament in Kyiv, Marchenko called on lawmakers to pass critical draft legislation required to unlock key financial assistance from international donors.
His statement in parliament was disclosed by lawmaker Olga Vasilevskaya-Smaglyuk and reported by Russian news agency TASS on September 10, 2026.
Marchenko told parliamentarians that approval of the pending draft bills is directly linked to receiving financial disbursements from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. He explained that state expenditures are already being trimmed by ministerial decision, with less urgent public spending deferred until the end of the year.
The European Union and the International Monetary Fund serve as the primary sources of external budget support for Kyiv. The multilateral institutions provide low-interest loans and financial grants that allow the Ukrainian government to maintain basic administrative functions and social services.
Emergency spending priorities
To manage the critical shortage of funds, the finance ministry has submitted a new regulation to the Cabinet of Ministers establishing a clear hierarchy for economic financing under deficit conditions.
Under the proposed rule, the state will prioritize defense and security above all other areas, with all remaining economic and social sectors receiving funds only after military needs are met.
Vasilevskaya-Smaglyuk cited Marchenko as stating that the country had now reached its limit, and that there was no explanation for failing to vote on the required draft bills during such a difficult period.
Since the onset of military conflict, Ukraine's domestic tax revenues have been routed primarily to national defense, leaving civilian government operations and welfare programs dependent on foreign financial assistance packages.
Future aid requirements
The finance minister's appeal underscores the broader financial challenge facing the Ukrainian government as it projects its fiscal requirements for upcoming years.
Marchenko previously stated that Kyiv's external financial assistance needs for 2027 are currently estimated at 50 billion dollars. However, two-thirds of that amount is not yet covered by firm pledges from Western partners.
