Volodimir Zelenski presented “Plan A” and “Plan B” for the War with Russia: “You must understand the extent of this problem”
Volodimir Zelenski on a visit to a US weapon factory last year: PHOTO: Office of the Ukrainian Presidency / AP / Profimedia
Ukraine has prepared two plans for 2026, and one of them provides for the end of the war with Russia, said Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelenski at a conference organized in Kiev, reports RBC Ukraine.
Zelenski emphasized during the press conference that he held with Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, that the price paid by Ukraine for a single year of width with Russia is $ 120 billion. Ukraine's budget covers $ 60 billion, and another 60 billion must still be identified for next year.
“I hope we will put an end to this war. But in any case, plan A is to conclude the war. Plan B means 120 billion. And this is a huge challenge,” Zelenski said.
Zelenski said that Ukraine needs about $ 60 billion in the form of external assistance to finance all the other non -military expenses of the budget, given that almost all taxes and taxes collected by Kiev are used for war effort.
These amounts do not include external military aid promised to Ukraine, which Zelenski has estimated at another $ 60 billion.
“In any case, you need to understand the magnitude of this problem. That's why we talk so much about these resources,” he added.
How much does Ukraine pay for a single day of war against Russia
His comments come a few days after Roksolana Pidlasa, the president of the Ukraine's Parliament Commission, said the costs of the war against Russia continued to increase.
According to her, a single day of war costs Ukraine this year $ 172,000,000, compared to 140,000,000 in 2024. The amount includes soldiers' salaries, armament and payments for the injured or for the families of those killed. “We need to get all the necessary resources, all the necessary money,” said Pidlasa.
“The economy of the war shows that if we spend less money than Russia, then we will pay with the territories and, most importantly, with our lives,” said former Prime Minister Denîs Șmîhal, who after the government reshuffle now occupies the defense portfolio.
Meanwhile, negotiations for organizing a meeting between Zelenski and Vladimir Putin, mediated by the US, seem to have completely blocked.
Trump threatened Russia with new sanctions
Putin says he will participate in such a meeting only if she will take place in Moscow, while Ukrainian officials say such a condition is unacceptable due to security concerns.
US President Donald Trump said last Friday that his patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin “is fast exhausted” as the ultimatum he gave Moscow to find a solution has been expired for some time.
“When Putin wanted to do it, Zelenski did not want. When Zelenski wanted, he didn't want a little,” Trump said about possible peace negotiations.
The leader of the White House has evoked the possibility of sanctions against the Russian banks and the Russian oil sector, but his administration has not yet announced new measures in this regard.
Instead, his administration has asked the EU to impose 100% punitive customs duties against China and India because of their Russian oil imports, promising that the example will follow.
