Budanov to Lead Task Force as Zelenskyy Signs Decree for Annual Address to Parliament.

Ukrainian President Signs Directive for Upcoming Address

According to Novyny.live: On June 25, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a directive to prepare his annual address to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. Kyrylo Budanov has been appointed head of the working group responsible for drafting the document, with a deadline set for December 1, 2026. This address is a key mechanism for outlining the government's strategic priorities.

Working Group Members and Funding

The working group includes several notable figures:

• Serhiy Kyslytsia
• Iryna Vereshchuk
• Ihor Zhovkva
• Olena Kovalska
• Viktor Mykyta
• Iryna Mudra
• Pavlo Palisa
• Oleh Tatarov
• Ihor Lysyi

Oleksandr Bohomolov has been named as Budanov's deputy.

Additionally, the State Management of Affairs has been tasked with securing funding for the preparation of this document. Budget adjustments include a proposed increase of 1.56 trillion hryvnias in spending on the security and defense sector. These measures underscore the government's serious commitment to shaping key state policies and strengthening national security amid ongoing regional challenges.

Preparing the annual address to the Verkhovna Rada is a critical step in shaping state policy, as it allows for outlining the country's development priorities for the coming years.

Source: Press Service of the President of Ukraine

Budanov's appointment to lead the working group—given his extensive experience in national security—highlights the administration's focus on defense and security issues in the face of current threats. The planned increase in defense spending reflects the government's determination to bolster the country's defense capabilities during this period of regional instability.