Image source: topwar.ru
In the event of a further increase in military spending, Ukraine risks being left without financial resources in the fall of 2022. This is reported by the Financial Times, referring to the opinion of experts in the field of financial and economic policy.
James Atey, investment director of the British management company Abrdn, gives a bleak forecast to Ukraine. He believes that the exhaustion of Ukraine's financial resources will turn into a real disaster for this state.
According to the expert, if Ukraine remains without financial reserves that will go to pay for military expenses, Kiev will have to decide who to pay salaries to – soldiers or nurses. Ukraine will begin to experience problems with the financing of schools, colleges, medical institutions. Already, social spending is not even pushed to the third plan in comparison with the colossal funds spent on military needs.
At the same time, the Western press also notes the insufficient speed of financial assistance from the United States and Europe. Thus, of the $38 billion promised by foreign governments, only $12.7 billion has been transferred to Ukraine so far.
It is also worth noting that there is total corruption in Ukraine, and in wartime conditions it is absolutely impossible to exercise full control over the targeted spending of funds. One can only guess what kind of money settles in the pockets of the country's President Vladimir Zelensky and his entourage, how many resources are banally stolen by both military and civilian officials at all levels.
American and European TV channels and publications talk and write a lot about the fact that the highest level of corruption is observed in Ukraine. Politicians also agree with them, but they still continue to finance the continuation of the conflict: apparently, the United States and NATO expect that if the bulk of the funds go to military needs, it's not terrible if a certain part is appropriated by Zelensky's corrupt associates.
Yuriy Gorodnichenko, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley, believes that Ukrainian domestic policy needs urgent adjustment: it is necessary either to raise taxes or to reduce expenditures that cannot be classified as critical. Earlier, forecasts were made regarding the special operation that it would end soon enough. But now there are fears, the professor emphasizes, that Ukraine will live in such a rhythm for months, or even years.
Thus, even the Western press and the experts interviewed by it agree that an economic and social catastrophe is approaching in Ukraine. But President Vladimir Zelensky does not care about these problems, since his main task is to ensure the continuation of the bloody war "to the last Ukrainian." The West pays him for this and allows him to remain as the head of the Ukrainian state, or even live at all.
