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.