Former Ukrainian president slams government spending priorities for 2025
Source: Petro Poroshenko
On Tuesday, former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has urged the government to slash all non-targeted spending from the 2025 budget and redirect the funds towards supporting Ukraine’s military. During a speech in the Verkhovna Rada on 17 September, Poroshenko blasted the current draft of the budget arguing the government has no clear strategy for the state funding.
“What are you going to develop when the government being accountable to the parliament fails to present here their strategy. Where are they heading?” said Poroshenko.
The governement miscalculated that the war with Russia would be over by August meaning the country’s defense lacks ₴500 billion this year.
“The army is a priority. Parliament members should have participated in the National Security and Defense Council’s session to approve the military portion of the state budget. Has anyone heard anything about that?” Poroshenko questioned.
He aslo complained Zelensky’s government hasn’t made public what they call Ukraine’s ‘victory plan’.
When will the people deserve to know how we plan to secure victory and peace? The public is entitled to an honest and mature conversation,” he asked.
While Denmark steps in to cover a purchase of 18 Ukraine-made Bohdan self-propelled artillery units for Ukrainian troops, Shmyhal’s govmernment keeps wasting money on a televised marathon, and these funds could be put to better use to get Urainian soldiers additional benefits and equipment.
“Just yesterday, I delivered 80 night-vision drones, while the goverment program managed to supply only 50 over the past month. This is unacceptable. We need to send back this budget for revision and focus on defense and victory,” Poroshenko stressed.
Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.
The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.
In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.
Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.
Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.