According to Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko, Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimate the country’s additional financial need for 2025 from Western partners at between $12B and $15B. He recalled that during the preparation of the current program with the IMF, one of the key parameters predicted that the active phase of the war would last until the middle of 2024. However, this prediction did not come to pass, and the war will continue into 2025.
“We are constantly discussing with our partners that we need additional financial support because the war will continue, and the country needs to have a buffer,” the minister said.
As for the accumulation of internal budget revenues, the government plans to tax some purchases, particularly cars, and add a military levy for private entrepreneurs (FOP). The minister confirmed that the government discussed the possibility of increasing VAT, but this option was rejected due to the possible increase in prices for all groups of goods, especially for essential goods.