Russian defence minister calls Ukraine “bankrupt country”

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has said Ukraine is actually a bankrupt country.

Ukraine has received $203 billion from Western partners, he said at an enlarged meeting of the Defence Ministry board, Kommersant reports.

"Ukraine has so far received $203 billion from external sponsors, which is $30 billion more than its GDP. In fact, it is a bankrupt country, as a significant part of these funds are loans that have to be repaid," the Russian minister said.

Shoigu added that 54 countries announced arms deliveries to Kyiv when the Russian military operation started.

But in reality, weapons and military equipment are supplied to Ukraine from only 15 countries, the Russian defence minister said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said that without help from allies, the country faces a $29 billion budget hole.

The Ukrainian authorities are counting on more than $30 billion from the European Union, the US and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The IMF estimated Ukraine's needs in 2024 at $42 billion.

The US authorities cannot agree on the allocation of the next aid package to Ukraine because of the Republican Party, which insists that the aid package should include amendments to tighten immigration policy on the border with Mexico. The Senate postponed the holiday because of the need to resolve the issue before the end of the year. The EU cannot agree on providing €50 billion to Kyiv due to Hungary's lack of consent.