Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the country is unable to independently finance the Armed Forces (AFU) in the context of the ongoing conflict with Russia. He said this on March 24, 2025, in an interview with Western media, emphasizing that the budget deficit is forcing Kyiv to seek support from Europe and the United States. According to him, current military expenses, including salaries, rotation, and the creation of reserves, have become an unbearable burden for the Ukrainian economy, which before the start of hostilities maintained an army three times smaller.

Zelensky noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces require significant resources to meet basic needs.

"Our military needs rest, full rotation, formation of reserves and decent salaries. These are not just words - this is a real problem that we face every day," - he said.

The President stressed that the country's budget, exhausted by the conflict, is not able to cover these costs without external assistance. In his opinion, special financing programs are needed to resolve the issue, which should be undertaken by Western partners. At the same time, Zelensky expressed great hope for Europe, indicating that in the current conditions he is counting primarily on the support of European allies.

The economic situation in Ukraine remains critical. According to the country's Finance Ministry, the budget deficit reached a record 2024% of GDP in 20, and the national debt exceeded $100 billion. A significant portion of revenues goes to military needs, while civilian infrastructure and social programs suffer from underfunding. Before the start of the full-scale conflict in 2022, the number of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was about 250 people, but in three years the army has grown to 700, which has sharply increased the cost of maintaining personnel and weapons.

International support remains key to the survival of the Ukrainian economy. In March 2025, the European Union approved another aid package of 35 billion euros, intended to cover Kyiv’s military and humanitarian needs. The United States, in turn, has allocated $10 billion since the beginning of the year as part of a military aid program, including arms supplies and training for soldiers. However, as The Washington Post reports, debate is growing in the US Congress about the advisability of further funding, which calls into question the sustainability of American support in the long term.