Russia Says Ukraine Faces Huge Budget Deficit

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, has said Ukraine is facing an “astronomical” budget deficit in response to comments by Volodymyr Zelensky about the country’s financial situation.

According to Russian media, Zakharova used a statement by the Ukrainian president on Sunday as the basis for sharp criticism, claiming that Zelensky would send more people to their deaths to avoid accountability to the public.

Zelensky had previously said at the Carpathian Initiative meeting that Ukraine was facing a very large budget deficit.

Zakharova also wrote on her Telegram channel that by continuing the war, Zelensky would “pave” Ukraine with bodies so that he would no longer have any responsibility toward the people.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a full-scale war since February 2022, a conflict that, in addition to the human toll, has placed heavy pressure on both sides’ economies and budgets.