According to our sources in the Office of the President, one of the most pressing issues for Ukraine remains the financing of the Armed Forces. Supporting an army of 600-800 thousand soldiers without significant financial assistance from the EU is actually beyond the budget. That is why the Office of the President is actively looking for alternative models for providing the army.
According to the interlocutors, the head of the OP Andriy Yermak proposed a concept in the summer, according to which the financing of the Armed Forces of Ukraine could be partially carried out within the framework of international security guarantees. Currently, the presidential team is working on an option that involves using part of the frozen Russian assets for the needs of the Ukrainian army. However, the mechanism of such financing remains unclear - discussions are ongoing both within the country and at the level of partners.
The problem is compounded by the fact that the EU still has no single solution on how to use frozen Russian assets. Some countries support the idea of channeling them directly to Ukraine's defense, while others insist on restrictions or alternative models, including a reparations loan.
Kyiv admits that without large-scale external funding, it will be extremely difficult to maintain an army of its current size. Therefore, the search for tools — from security guarantees to the use of Russian assets — remains a key topic in negotiations with Western partners.
