On April 6, members of the “Servant of the People” faction convened with government officials and parliamentary leadership, including Kirill Budanov, head of the Presidential Office. The meeting focused on the legislative agenda, particularly the need to vote on key bills tied to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Ukraine Facility financial support program.
According to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, these bills are scheduled for a vote on April 7. One participant noted,
“We discussed the need to enhance our cooperation, especially regarding the Ukraine Facility, as funding is linked to it.”
The primary goal of the meeting was to address the urgent need for legislation that would unlock portions of international aid, a point previously emphasized by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Another attendee remarked,
“There was an open discussion. Kirill managed it well.”
Following the initial discussions, the faction held a meeting that included several government ministers. Present were Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev, and Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko.
During this session, the focus remained on upcoming votes related to IMF requirements and the Ukraine Facility. Attendees indicated that the faction plans to vote on bills extending military taxes and regulating digital platform taxation on April 7. However, a proposal to eliminate existing tax exemptions for international parcels failed to garner sufficient support, partly due to a controversial amendment that could revoke lifetime PEP status.
One faction representative expressed concern, stating,
“We have a significant issue with how banks administer PEP. This really discourages individuals from pursuing high-level government positions, as their entire family gets entangled in PEP status.”
Discussions also touched on VAT for individual entrepreneurs, but no plans for a vote on this matter were announced. Overall, members reported an improvement in internal faction dynamics. Faction leader David Arakhamia has engaged with smaller groups within the faction, helping to alleviate some concerns. Lawmakers noted enhanced collaboration between the government and parliament, with positive feedback on government representation at faction meetings.
One participant noted,
“Taras Kachka provided extensive explanations since he was involved in the negotiations with the IMF. We then moved on to regular issues—IDPs, schools, and more.”
Despite the progress, many lawmakers remain skeptical about resolving the vote-counting challenges on April 7 and 8. However, they express hope that most of the bills on the agenda will be successfully passed.
Ukrainian lawmakers convened to discuss critical legislation aimed at securing international financial aid. Key votes are scheduled for April 7, with an emphasis on bills related to the IMF and the Ukraine Facility, amid ongoing concerns about internal faction dynamics and legislative support.