During a working visit to Paris and participation in the G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors, Ukraine’s Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko held a series of bilateral meetings with key international partners.
In particular, meetings took place with France’s Minister of the Economy and Finance Roland Lescure, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, and European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis. Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine Olga Zykova and Deputy Minister of Finance for European Integration Yuriy Draganchuk also took part in the meetings.
The parties discussed the current state of Ukraine’s economy, the impact of the full-scale war on public finances, and key external financing needs for the coming years.
Sergii Marchenko thanked international partners for their consistent and coordinated support, which helped maintain macro-financial stability amid the ongoing war. He stressed that in 2026 the security and defense sector would remain the top priority of the state budget. Ukraine therefore needs continued international assistance to cover social and humanitarian expenditures.
The minister expressed gratitude for the implementation of the ERA loans and the Ukraine Facility, which since 2024 had become key instruments for ensuring stable state budget financing and supporting Ukraine’s economic resilience.
The Ukrainian side also welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide EUR 90 billion in financial support for 2026-2027 and emphasized the expectation of finalizing and signing the loan agreement. As early as this year, Ukraine expects to receive EUR 45 billion from the EU under this instrument: EUR 28.3 billion to support the security and defense sector and EUR 16.7 billion as budget support.
At the same time, it was emphasized that the Ukraine Support Loan covered only part of Ukraine’s financial needs, making continued stable and predictable international support critically important.
Special attention was given to further work on the use of frozen russian assets. This should become a key instrument for the fair sharing of the financial burden of the war and an important source of resources for Ukraine’s recovery. The minister stressed that russia must bear financial responsibility for the damage caused, and work on mechanisms for using frozen russian assets should continue.
The parties also discussed the implementation of structural reforms that ensure macro-financial stability, improve the investment climate, and strengthen public institutions. Continuing reforms is a key condition for long-term resilience and an important factor in Ukraine’s path toward EU membership. Priority areas include expanding the revenue base through tackling the shadow economy, improving tax and customs administration, and strengthening public financial management and public investment governance.
Sergii Marchenko emphasized that maintaining partner unity and continuing the policy of shared financial burden-sharing were essential to sustaining Ukraine until the end of the war and achieving a just and lasting peace. (Finance Ministry)