Ukraine's parliament can fill Zelensky's budget black hole, if it does the reforms, EU letter reminds
"The Verkhovna Rada … has a decisive role in turning reform commitments requiring legislative action into tangible results for Ukraine," reads a letter sent to the Ukrainian parliament by two EU commissioners.
A Sept. 14 letter from the European Commission to Ukraine's parliament speaker highlights the nation's ability to unlock over 20 billion euros ($23 billion) of EU funding by the end of 2026, provided it enacts a set of planned reforms. As of Sept. 16, the letter, reported by Suspilne public broadcaster, sees the reforms remain stuck in parliament, weeks after President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted a $27 billion budget shortfall for 2026.
Over 20 billion euros in EU financial aid remains available until 2026, contingent upon the fulfillment of these reforms aligned with EU demands. The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) holds a crucial role in converting legislative commitments into actual outcomes for Ukraine, the letter emphasizes. The reforms benefit Ukraine broadly, including increased income for public resources, a healthier business climate, more investment, and access to further International Monetary Fund (IMF) support.
On the same day, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi convened lawmakers to outline the schedule for forthcoming votes. Ukraine's fiscal status is under intense strain, urging lawmakers to swiftly pass the legislation needed to secure international financial backing. So far, the EU and its member states have extended 220 billion euros ($254 billion) in support to Ukraine since the onset of the full-scale invasion.
Other global partners should augment their commitments, with the parliament playing a vital role in rallying broader support, the letter underscores. The EU's 90 billion-euro ($104 billion) loan to Ukraine, approved in April 2026, aims to cover two-thirds of Kyiv's total budgetary requirements through the end of 2027. Other allied nations are expected to contribute the remaining third, though this has not materialized, and both EU and Ukrainian figures have lately stressed this explicitly.
The letter also notes that progress on EU integration is hindered by the need for the parliament to take further steps on the protection of persons belonging to national minorities and their educational rights. While not naming any specific countries, the letter indicates that member states place significant importance on resolving this issue for the accession process to advance.
Hungary, widely understood in Brussels, is the leading country advocating for concrete progress on this matter. The Verkhovna Rada has been pivotal to Ukraine's democratic resilience and European commitment... we rely on the Rada's ongoing dedication to advancing these reforms in Ukraine's and its citizens' long-term interests.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
