Cabinet mobilizes resources: how Ukraine plans to fully fund the army by the end of 2026

The Government of Ukraine, in August 2026, has set a course to fully cover all financial needs of the armed forces by the end of the current year. As Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi reported, the Cabinet of Ministers is seeking additional resources, including attracting assistance from international partners, to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of the security and defense sector.

Urgent meeting: discussing the deficit and needs

To address critical funding issues, the Prime Minister held a separate, closed meeting with key figures of state administration. The discussion involved the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, the Minister of Finance, the Acting Minister of Defense, the Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, and the Minister of Internal Affairs. The main topic of the meeting was the actual, updated funding requirement for defense forces for the remaining months of 2026. Participants discussed not only current needs but also mechanisms for their rapid coverage.

Strategy: internal taxes and external aid

Serhiy Koretskyi emphasized that the government and the Ministry of Finance are working to fully cover all necessary expenses. According to the Prime Minister, all internal tax revenues continue to be directed to the needs of the security and defense sector, indicating the priority of military spending in the country's economy. However, given the scale of needs, internal funds may be insufficient. Therefore, the government is actively working on finding additional resources, specifically through attracting aid from international partners. This implies both direct financial assistance and the provision of military equipment and hardware.

Looking ahead: budget for 2027

In addition to solving current tasks, the government has already formed a vision for funding defense forces for the next year. Currently, the Cabinet of Ministers is working on the comprehensive formation of the budget for 2027. This strategic planning is necessary to ensure the stability and predictability of army funding in the context of the ongoing conflict. Defense remains the main item of expenditure in the state budget, and the government strives to ensure that this sector is fully resourced.

Context of record spending

It is important to note that defense remains the main item of expenditure in the state budget of Ukraine. In June, the Verkhovna Rada adopted amendments to the 2026 budget, increasing funding for the security and defense sector by 1.56 trillion hryvnias. Following this, total defense spending reached a record 4.4 trillion hryvnias. These figures demonstrate the scale of the state's efforts to ensure the country's security and underscore the importance of current funding negotiations.