An international monetary fund’s mission began its work in Ukraine today Wednesday, as Kiev is looking for funds to fill a large gap in its budget in war next year.

Kiev’s spending on his army is constantly increasing as the war continues and the financial gap is expanding.

“We focus on the budget of 2026, on fiscal forecasts, on structural reforms. We are in line with the next steps of cooperation, taking into account the needs of the state budget for the coming years, “Finance Minister Sergei Marchenko said in a post on X.

The government has not yet presented its draft budget for the following year. This year’s deficit of the budget is scheduled to rise to about $ 38 billion.

Central Bank Governor Andriy Pistni said that only about one -third of $ 65 billion required for both 2026 and 2027 is committed, while talks are under way.

Ukraine spends most of the state revenue in the army and finances social and humanitarian costs with foreign aid, which, according to the Treasury, has risen to nearly $ 145 billion since Russia began its full invasion of 2022.

The country currently has a four -year $ 15.5 billion borrowing program with the IMF and has already received $ 10.6 billion under the loan of extensive financial facilitation, according to official figures.

Ukrainian officials have said that Kiev wants to launch talks on a new IMF program.