I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
Today, it is important to say a few things about what needs to happen next. For Ukraine, the beginning of autumn in a war like this is an opportunity to get done what is needed for the winter. To get through this year. To enter the next year. To ensure our defense. To ensure social payments. To ensure the normal functioning of our state, despite everything. There is an opportunity for this. Government officials, Members of Parliament – everyone knows this. Decisions here in Ukraine unlock funding from our partners. One part is the Government’s decisions: 44 decisions are needed, and that means $15 billion. Everything is quite specific, and the Government will ensure that these decisions are adopted by November 1. The Prime Minister and Ministers understand their personal responsibility. Members of Parliament also bear part of the responsibility to the people of Ukraine – around $15 billion is part of the work they need to do.
It concerns very specific bills, the adoption of which unlocks funding from our partners in support of Ukraine. Today, three laws failed to pass in the Verkhovna Rada that could have secured more than $4 billion for Ukraine. Another two laws from the IMF program also failed. This is not funding for the authorities or the opposition. In Ukraine, there are no salaries for teachers of one faction and for teachers of another parliamentary group. There are no salaries for military personnel from one part of the parliamentary chamber or another. And there is no energy system where electricity is available only to those who vote for their own side. All decisions based on agreements with Ukraine’s partners must be adopted during wartime in Ukraine’s interests. They may be difficult decisions. They may be unpleasant decisions. They may be unpopular decisions. But they are necessary decisions that help Ukraine get through this time – the time of war, ensure the needs of the front, protect our people, and secure social payments. $30 billion this year depends entirely on the Government and the Members of Parliament. Laws that are needed in our relations with the EU must be supported by all factions and groups that support the EU. Voting against them, or talking a lot about Europe while not voting for Europe, is dishonest. And beyond being dishonest, right now it is also against the state – against the Ukrainian state. Ukraine must deliver on its internal part of the work – every faction, every group, everyone who is Ukrainian. And if someone already wants elections, if someone is already thinking about ratings and their own political gains – then today, amid these alerts, right now, during this war, they need to think exclusively about what is needed for defense, for the functioning of the state, and for payments to people. You can think about elections after the war. Decisions needed to secure $30 billion for Ukraine must be voted through.
As for the other part of the budget deficit – the additional $27 billion needed for the Ministry of Defense – we are talking with our partners at all levels. But to bring in additional funding, we need to do what Ukraine has already committed to doing.
I thank everyone who helps, who understands this. I am counting on clear work from the Government and all Members of Parliament.
Tomorrow morning, I will send bills to the Verkhovna Rada to strengthen criminal liability for those who organize scam call centers. We need to shut this down. Law enforcement agencies are taking the relevant steps. Legislative steps are needed as well. Everyone who organizes these call centers must be held accountable.
Glory to Ukraine!