The government is preparing the draft state budget for 2026 based on an alternative scenario that assumes the war will continue. The document is planned to be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada by 15 September.
This was announced by Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko at a briefing during the presentation of the draft Government Action Programme, according to an LB.ua correspondent.
‘We have a basic scenario for the end of the war in 2025. There is also an alternative scenario that assumes the war will continue in 2026. This is for the purpose of preparing the budget. We have to submit the budget to parliament on 15 September. This scenario has been chosen as the basis, so we are preparing the budget based on it, because it is quite clear,’ Marchenko said.
According to him, the key task of the government is to maintain the share of budget revenues in GDP.
‘We are having difficult discussions with the International Monetary Fund team. We will argue that the expected restructuring of fiscal authorities and measures to combat the shadow economy will make it possible to maintain revenues. This is now the main task,’ the minister stressed.
Marchenko added that the government does not currently plan to change the tax system.
- The head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance also said that Ukraine needs $45 billion for 2026, as fighting is expected to continue. This need has not yet been met, so negotiations are underway with international partners - the G7, the EU and the IMF.