Parliament must conduct a clear and honest dialogue that will make it possible to pass decisions needed to ensure Ukraine’s financial capacity. This was stated by Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.
“A clear and honest dialogue must continue in parliament. Not so that everyone holds the same position, but so that different positions do not block decisions on which the state’s financial capacity depends.
I began the meeting with this appeal, attended by the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada, the Prime Minister, government officials, representatives of all parliamentary factions and groups, chairs of профиль committees, as well as ambassadors of the G7 countries and other European partners,” the statement says.
Stefanchuk stresses that a number of bills directly concern funding for the state budget and the fulfilment of Ukraine’s international obligations. Some of these documents, he said, are moving through parliament more slowly than they should.
“Different positions were voiced. That is normal for parliament. But dialogue must lead to a decision,” the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada emphasised.
He also urged MPs not to use parliamentary procedures to block laws needed for the functioning of the state. In particular, this concerns the mass submission of amendments to bills.
Separately, the meeting discussed preparing documents for the second reading, the work of committees, and the timeframe for considering each bill. Stefanchuk added that prolonged air-raid alerts reduce the effective working time of parliament, and this must be taken into account.
Participants also spoke about European integration. According to Stefanchuk, the Ukrainian parliament is directly involved in developing the negotiating clusters with the European Union.
The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada noted that parliament has understanding and working cooperation with the government. Now, he said, the shared task is to bring positions closer together and turn dialogue into concrete decisions.
“On our shoulders today lies not only the quality of legislation, but to a large extent the country’s financial capacity as well. That is why we have no time for parliamentary obstruction,” Stefanchuk said.
- Ruslan Stefanchuk’s statement came amid problems passing bills on which Ukraine’s receipt of external financing depends.
- On 1 September, the Verkhovna Rada for the second time failed to pass bills on the taxation of parcels. Bill No. 15460 on amendments to the Customs Code received 194 votes, and No. 15112-d on amendments to the Tax Code received 198, short of the required 226.
- The failed vote was criticised by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It concerned, in particular, the abolition of the exemption for parcels worth up to €150. The successful adoption of the relevant changes was linked to receiving the third tranche from the International Monetary Fund in the amount of $700 million and the second tranche of EU macro-financial assistance of €3.7 billion under a separate support instrument for Ukraine for 2026–2027.
- “This is not the money of the authorities or the opposition. In Ukraine, there are no teachers’ salaries for one faction and teachers’ salaries for another parliamentary group. There are no soldiers’ salaries for one or another part of the parliamentary chamber,” Zelenskyy said.
- After that, the government submitted a new version of the bill on VAT for parcels, which also included a provision to strengthen financial monitoring of politically exposed persons (PEPs).
- The Verkhovna Rada’s agenda for next week also includes a number of bills needed to fulfil Ukraine’s obligations to international partners under the Ukraine Facility and IMF programmes.
- Read more in the LB.ua article “In Brussels, They Will Now Think Ten Times Over”. Why the Rada Is Not Passing Laws on Which EU Aid Depends