Zelensky urges Rada to back seven budget-financing bills as MPs dismiss prosecutor general
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Verkhovna Rada on September 15, calling on MPs to support seven bills needed to finance the state budget deficit and unlock international funding. The Cabinet of Ministers submitted three additional bills in the same package, covering the National Securities and Stock Market Commission, Ukrzaliznytsia and the Higher Qualification Commission of Judges. On the same day, MPs voted to dismiss Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and advanced a first-reading bill tightening liability for banking and call-center fraud.
Key points
- Zelensky made an evening address on September 15 urging the Verkhovna Rada to back seven bills linked to financing the state budget deficit.
- Most of the seven bills were scheduled for first reading.
- The Cabinet of Ministers approved and sent to parliament three additional bills in the same package.
- Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky said the three extra bills concern the National Securities and Stock Market Commission, Ukrzaliznytsia and the Higher Qualification Commission of Judges.
- Zelensky said positive votes could unlock billions of dollars in international funding.
- On September 15, the Rada supported the dismissal of Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko.
- MPs also backed in first reading a bill amending the Criminal Code to strengthen liability for fraudulent call centers and banking fraud.
Why it matters
Zelensky presented the legislative package as a precondition for unlocking international financing to cover the state budget deficit, saying positive parliamentary votes could bring in billions of dollars. The bills span fiscal measures and institutional reforms at the securities regulator, the state railway Ukrzaliznytsia and the judges' qualification commission, tying domestic legislation directly to external funding and to defense and resilience needs. The same parliamentary day also produced a personnel change — the dismissal of Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko — and a first-reading bill tightening liability for banking and call-center fraud.
What happened
On September 15, President Volodymyr Zelensky used his evening address to urge the Verkhovna Rada to back seven bills needed to finance the state budget deficit and to bring in international funding. He thanked MPs who had already voted positively that day and framed the package as a matter of national importance, warning that some of the decisions may be difficult, unpleasant or unpopular but are required to meet Ukraine's defense and resilience needs.
Most of the seven bills were scheduled for first reading. The Cabinet of Ministers approved and submitted to parliament three additional bills in the same package. Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky said the three extra bills concern the National Securities and Stock Market Commission, Ukrzaliznytsia and the Higher Qualification Commission of Judges, and he instructed ministers to work the draft laws through with MPs at committee level.
The same parliamentary day produced two other notable outcomes: MPs supported the dismissal of Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, and in first reading backed a bill amending the Criminal Code to strengthen liability for fraudulent call centers and banking fraud.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Both supplied articles are Ukrainian sources. Both center the presidency and the Verkhovna Rada, presenting the legislative package as tied to defense and resilience needs and to international funding. The articles diverge in which parliamentary outcome they lead with: one foregrounds the budget-deficit package, the other leads with the prosecutor general's dismissal and the call-center liability bill, with the budget bills not explicitly named.
Where reporting differs
The two Ukrainian sources differ in editorial emphasis: one frames the day around Zelensky's call to back seven budget-financing bills, while the other leads with his thanks for the prosecutor general vote and the call-center liability bill and does not explicitly name the budget package.
Background
Ukraine's wartime budget relies heavily on external financing, so legislative conditions attached by international partners translate directly into domestic parliamentary priorities. On September 15, the Verkhovna Rada combined budget-linked votes with a personnel decision — the dismissal of Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko — and a first-reading bill on banking and call-center fraud.