Roman Yermolychev: Funding priorities include defense, wages, and social payments — we're working to secure external support for the State Budget

Postponing part of this year's capital spending to year-end and preparing the 2027 State Budget were the key issues outlined by First Deputy Minister of Finance Roman Yermolychev at a September review of the Ukrainian economy hosted by the Centre for Economic Strategy (CES).The discussion also involved Roksolana Pidlasa, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada's Budget Committee; Volodymyr Lepushynskyi, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine; and representatives of international financial institutions, businesses, and European institutions.On the 2026 budget situation, Roman Yermolychev stressed that funding for defense, public sector wages, pensions, and social payments remained the top priority."Due to the uneven flow of international financing, part of this year's capital spending has been pushed back to December. At the same time, funding for defense, wages, pensions, and social payments continues to be prioritized," the First Deputy Minister said.As a result of delays in international financing, around UAH 39 billion in capital spending accumulated between January and September has been shifted to December. This doesn't mean the programs are being cancelled — only that their fund