By Olena Harmash
KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine relies heavily on economic assistance from the West and has received more than $68.5 billion in budgetary support during the war started by Russia in February 2022, finance ministry data shows.
Ukraine spends all its revenue on the defence sector and army, while budget sector overheads have been largely covered by Western aid. A single day of fighting costs about $136 million, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko has said.
Next year the government will again need massive injections of financial support to disburse social payments, wages for budget workers, and pensions for millions of Ukrainians.
The government expects a budget deficit of about $43 billion in 2024 and plans to cover it with domestic borrowing and financial aid from its Western partners.
Finance ministry officials have previously said they expect to receive $41 billion in international aid next year.
But the government and analysts are now worried by signs of uncertainty over the provision of that financing. Some analysts predict Western aid is likely to start diminishing next year.
Here are some facts and figures about the main Western packages containing economic assistance that Ukraine hopes to receive.
U.S. ASSISTANCE
Ukraine is in talks with the U.S. government to receive economic assistance next year. Kyiv seeks $8.5 billion in aid to help cover its budget deficit, senior lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration asked Congress in October for nearly $106 billion to fund plans for Ukraine, Israel and U.S. border security, but Republicans who control the House with a slim majority rejected the package.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was expected to address U.S. senators by video link behind closed doors on Tuesday in order to make the case for more Ukrainian funding. The package is still being discussed, but its passage remains uncertain.
EUROPE’S UKRAINE FACILITY
This summer, the European Union announced a 50 billion euro multi-year support package named the Ukraine Facility that would be delivered through 2027.
Kyiv officials have said they hope to receive 18 billion euros of budgetary support from the facility in 2024, financing that would be crucial for covering the budget gap next year.
But there is still no agreement on granting the aid inside the bloc. Several members have criticised the idea of the package.
IMF PROGRAMME, IFI SUPPORT
Ukraine’s cooperation with the International Monetary Fund is important for its macroeconomic and financial stability. This year the IMF approved a new 48-month lending programme worth some $15.6 billion.
Ukraine received $3.6 billion this year and expects another $900 million in December. In 2024 the government hopes to receive $5.4 billion but each tranche is linked to a series of reform targets and economic indicators.
Ukraine also expects about $1.5 billion from other international financial institutions, including the World Bank, next year.
OTHER PACKAGES
Ukraine has agreed financial support packages from Britain and Japan for 2024. It is also in talks with the governments of Canada, Norway, South Korea and others to secure other funds.
(Reporting by Olena Harmash; editing by Tom Balmforth and Angus MacSwan)
