Amid the protracted conflict with Russia and growing problems with mobilisation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he intends to ask European allies to finance payments to Ukrainian servicemen. This was reported by the Bloomberg news agency, citing Zelenskyy’s remarks during a meeting with journalists on 24 July.
According to the president, European assistance has so far been limited to supplies of weapons and equipment, but now Ukraine is counting on a wider format of support, as the servicemen themselves can be the weapon that protects everyone.
In the fourth year of the war, Ukrainian authorities are facing a decline in the popularity of mobilisation within the country. To attract volunteers, the government is offering contracts with substantial payments. However, such measures add pressure to the state budget, whose deficit already exceeded 20% of GDP last year, largely due to military spending. Zelenskyy estimates that Ukraine needs $25 billion annually to produce drones, electronic warfare equipment and missiles to sustain its defence efforts. This, according to him, will cause the budget deficit to grow to $65 billion in 2026.
Discussions on possible European support are already underway. Zelenskyy said that the topic of financing military payments was raised in his talks with European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US representatives.
The move could set a precedent, as it is the first time European taxpayers will directly fund the salaries of a foreign army. However, the situation also shows a strategic rethinking of the role of allies in the war. Ukrainian fighters can be not only a defence of national sovereignty, but also a potential shield for Europe, being the largest army in Europe with more than 3 years of real combat experience.
