Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the country's lawmakers, calling on them to review and adopt seven key bills during the current week, without which, in his words, it is impossible to close the state budget deficit and secure a flow of external financing. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement by the head of state. According to Zelensky, most of the seven documents are planned to be considered in the first reading, and he described their adoption as a matter of national significance that concerns every citizen rather than individual political forces.
Seven Laws on This Week's Agenda
According to the president's statement, the parliament's agenda for the current week includes seven bills, most of which will be considered in the first reading. Zelensky emphasized that these documents are critically important for the country, as it is precisely they that open access to funds from international partners and allow for the formation of a sustainable source of financing. The head of state called on everyone in the country to "be equally effective for the sake of Ukraine," noting that this is not about intra-party calculations but about the survival of the state as a whole.
Budget Deficit and "Billions of Dollars"
The central argument in the president's address was the need to close the state budget deficit. "The deficit needs to be closed. These are billions of dollars that Ukraine can gain precisely through positive votes," Zelensky stated. In doing so, he directly linked the outcome of voting in the Rada to the volume of funds the country is able to attract from international donors and financial institutions. In this context, the emphasis is placed on the fact that delay or blocking of the initiatives deprives the state of specific financial resources.
Unpopular but Necessary Steps
The president also acknowledged that some of the planned measures may prove difficult and unpopular for society. "Some things may be difficult, may be unpleasant and unpopular. But right now, without these things, it is impossible to meet the full needs of our defense, the sustainability of Ukraine. Ukraine is bigger than any party, interest, or PR strategy," he emphasized. This statement effectively signals in advance that among the seven bills there may be measures requiring tough budgetary or structural decisions that do not always find support in society.
Risks to Social Payments and Dependence on the IMF and Europe
The practical consequences of a possible failure to pass the laws have already been outlined at the level of the relevant departments. Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko warned that if the Rada does not adopt the bills needed to attract financing from the IMF and European partners, Ukraine may face delays in social payments. This turns the parliamentary vote from an abstract budgetary procedure into a factor that directly affects payments to the population, increasing pressure on lawmakers.
Context: The Cost of the War for the State Budget
The scale of the budgetary pressure is illustrated by the assessment of Roksolana Pidlasa, head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Budgetary Policy: one day of the war costs the Ukrainian state budget approximately $190 million. As is clarified, this amount does not include the weapons provided to Kyiv by international partners. The combination of these figures explains why the president calls the adoption of the seven laws a condition for ensuring the country's defense and sustainability, and why they have been placed on the parliament's priority agenda for the current week.
