European Solidarity MPs offer amendments to state budget to increase military expanses

Source: European Solidarity party

In a bid to increase the country’s military expenses, the “European Solidarity” party has introduced 114 amendments to Ukraine’s 2025 state budget that can allocate additional funding of 258.9 billion hryvnias, according to MP Nina Yuzhanina.  The party calls to prioritze the army needs offering to earmark:

• 236.5 billion hryvnias for Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, focusing on the development, purchase, modernization, and repair of military equipment, arms, and other essential resources.
• 20.8 billion hryvnias for the needs of military units within the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations.
• 1.6 billion hryvnias to maintain funding for the “New Ukrainian School” program at its current level.

“European Solidarity” outlined several revenue sources that will cover this spending. They inclued:

• 65.6 billion hryvnias from extra tax revenues, with specific measures like:
  • Raising the tax rate on gambling operators, lottery operators, and winnings to 50%, which would bring in 30 billion hryvnias.
  • Increasing excise tax rates on tobacco products, expected to yield 21.6 billion hryvnias.
  • Revising rent rates for natural gas extraction in line with market conditions and adjusting the taxation of new wells, generating 14 billion hryvnias.
• 99.6 billion hryvnias through cuts in government programs, including:
  • 42.2 billion hryvnias from reductions in road construction.
  • 10.1 billion hryvnias by adjusting government payroll expenses to 2024 levels.

In addition, the party said it would be make sense to redistribute 93.7 billion hryvnias from military-related personal income taxes (PIT), directing 70% to the Ministry of Defense and 30% to military units, instead of the current distribution to other agencies.