Koretsky Asks the Rada to Add One More Day of Work to Secure Funding
The Cabinet of Ministers is asking the Verkhovna Rada to hold an additional plenary session on October 12, even though lawmakers are scheduled to return to the chamber on October 13 following the recess. The government wants parliament to pass bills more quickly, as Ukraine’s access to international financing depends on them—in particular, an EU tranche of approximately $4.3 billion (€3.7 billion). The government itself plans to fulfill its part of the commitments by October 15.
The Cabinet of Ministers is asking the Verkhovna Rada not to wait until October 13 and to hold a plenary session on October 12 instead. The extra day is needed to consider the bills that Ukraine must pass to receive international financial assistance. Parliament is currently on a break from plenary sessions. Following the September sessions, the next plenary week is scheduled for mid-October, and work in the session hall is set to resume on October 13. Therefore, the government’s proposal effectively means starting plenary work one day earlier.
Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi explains this very simply: some of the necessary decisions must be adopted by the government itself, but others require the votes of lawmakers.
According to him, the government is already working to fulfill its commitments to international partners. In total, there are 42 decisions, including resolutions and other government documents. Koretskyi stated that the Cabinet of Ministers wants to complete this work by October 15, although November 1 had previously been cited as the deadline. “We have provided the deputies with specific deadlines. For each necessary decision, there is a date by which the law must be voted on and signed so that we can receive the necessary funds in time,” the prime minister explained.
According to him, international partners have their own procedures for approving and allocating funds. Therefore, even after the laws are passed, the money does not arrive immediately. “Our partners have their own procedures for approving and allocating funds, and these take time. For Ukraine, there is very little time left right now,” said Koretsky.
How Much Funding Is Ukraine Counting On?
The government is now talking about a significantly larger amount than a single specific tranche. According to the Cabinet of Ministers, Ukraine expects to attract $29.5 billion in international financing this year. To do so, a number of conditions must be met, some of which depend on the Verkhovna Rada. Among the funding that depends on Ukraine’s fulfillment of the necessary conditions is, in particular, the second tranche of EU macro-financial assistance, amounting to approximately €3.7 billion. In dollar terms, this amounts to about $4.3 billion. Receiving these funds is contingent upon Ukraine’s implementation of reforms and legislative commitments agreed upon with its partners.
The issue of this tranche has arisen before. In September, the Verkhovna Rada was unable to pass some of the necessary amendments on the first attempt. This created the risk of a delay in funding from the EU and the International Monetary Fund.
The European Union has approved a large-scale support package for Ukraine. Under the Ukraine Support Loan for 2026, up to €45 billion in aid is provided, of which up to €16.7 billion is for budgetary support and €28.3 billion is for supporting Ukraine’s defense industry. A separate macro-financial component provides for tranches of €3.2 billion, €3.7 billion, and €1.45 billion. Ukraine already received the first of these in June.
Why Timelines Are Important for the Government
Koretsky emphasizes that the state budget cannot wait indefinitely. Salaries for public sector employees, pensions, social benefits, and defense spending must be funded regularly. “Budget expenditures are tied to specific deadlines: salaries must be paid monthly, and accordingly, revenues must be received on time,” the prime minister noted. The Cabinet of Ministers also warned that due to delays in fulfilling international obligations, Ukraine risks not receiving part of the planned external financing on time. Koretskyi described these funds as necessary not only for balancing the budget but also for financing the needs of the Armed Forces.
Separately, the government estimates the Defense Forces’ needs at an additional $27 billion. According to Koretsky, this shortfall is planned to be covered, in particular, by accelerating the Ukraine Support Loan, utilizing frozen Russian assets, and securing additional loans from non-EU partners. Thus, the additional day of parliamentary session is needed not merely so that lawmakers can review the bills more quickly. The government is trying to meet the strict deadlines of international programs, as partners will still need time for their own procedures after the laws are passed.
For now, the proposal concerns October 12. According to the Verkhovna Rada’s current calendar, plenary sessions are scheduled to resume on October 13 following the recess; therefore, holding a session on the 12th requires a separate parliamentary decision. The government, for its part, has stated that it is ready to implement all necessary decisions by October 15. Now part of the process depends on parliament and the speed at which laws are passed; without them, Ukraine may experience delays in receiving international funds. Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi mentioned this during a conversation with journalists.
