Zelensky on Increasing Payments to Soldiers: An Extremely Difficult Task.

According to ТСН: President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the issue of increasing payments for military personnel, noting that it is an "extremely difficult task."

This subject was raised during the president's meeting with representatives of the media.

"Yes, there are relevant questions regarding the state budget. People on the front lines receive more money, we all understand that," said the head of state.

Zelensky explained that the possibility of increasing payments depends on additional resources that Ukraine can attract.

"Increasing payments to this or that division of the military primarily depends on the additional budget that Ukraine can mobilize. We need to understand that today we are fighting for 45-50 billion dollars for next year. They are allocated for certain things — not salaries," Zelensky noted.

The president emphasized that the current budget of the country is a single pool, so money needs to be distributed very carefully.

"The sums currently in the budget that are being criticized take into account that I will find a way to cover this deficit of 45-50 billion dollars. This budget still needs to be secured. And if there are no these 45-50 billion dollars, it means that you have to find the money from within this budget for the existing salary of the soldier," Zelensky replied.

The president also noted that any additional increase in payments without an increase in the budget is a difficult task.

"When you say: let’s increase even more – I’m all for it. But this is in addition to this deficit. Therefore, it is an extremely difficult task that cannot be solved simply by reallocating funds," Zelensky explained.

He assured that next year Ukraine will continue to seek funding from international partners.

"Next year we will fight for appropriate decisions with our partners," the president concluded.

It should also be noted that Zelensky signed the budget for 2026 without an increase in salaries for military personnel. For security and defense needs next year, it is planned to allocate 2.8 trillion UAH.

In the 2026 budget, salaries and payments were increased for educators, healthcare workers, and the social sphere. At the same time, lawmakers have tripled their fund, but money for increasing military salaries has not yet been found in the state treasury.

The situation with payments for military personnel remains relevant in wartime, and the adoption of the budget without their increase raised many questions. Facing a lack of resources, the authorities continue to seek ways to ensure funding, which is critically important to maintain the country's defense capabilities.