“Budget Talks” Podcast
“Budget Talks” is a podcast by the Fiscal Policy Research Center where we explain complex topics in simple terms: how budgets are formed, how expenditures are monitored, and how the public finance system works in Ukraine.
We invite people who work directly with these processes to share real, insider perspectives.
TOP Episodes
2026-03-06 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 3 · 👁 54.6K views · 🏷 Public administration, Public Finance, Social policy
Minister of Social Policy Denys Uliutin: Social Support Cannot Be Permanent
Podcast on Ukraine’s social policy: discusses IDPs, social payments, and reforms to ensure efficient and targeted support during wartime.
2026-05-13 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 3 · 👁 52.9K views · 🏷 Recovery
Deputy Minister of Finance Oleksandr Kava: There’s no point in redoing everything from scratch, but we definitely need to integrate into the European system
A podcast on Ukraine’s roads, railways, Euro-gauge integration, and transport infrastructure recovery during wartime.
2025-08-01 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 50.6K views · 🏷 Public administration, Public Finance, Tax policy
Acting Head of the State Tax Service: “A tax return reflects human lives”
Podcast on taxes in Ukraine: revenues, tax policy changes, and the role of the Tax Service during wartime.
2025-03-04 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 46.3K views · 🏷 Public administration, Public Finance, Tax policy
Hetmantsev: We have demolished most of the “schemes” that cost the budget billions
Podcast on Ukraine’s tax policy: shadow economy, tax reforms, and budget decisions affecting revenues and economic stability.
2026-04-02 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 3 · 👁 41.8K views · 🏷 Education, Public administration, Social policy
KSE Rector Tymofii Brik: Higher education in Ukraine is an industry in a constant state of crisis
Podcast on higher education in Ukraine: discusses funding, competition for students, and challenges facing universities during war and recovery.
Season 3 (2026)
Special Projects
2026-03-19 · Podcast · 🎧 Special project · 👁 39.4K views · 🏷 Education, International partners, Public administration
Deputy Head of the SASU V. Marushevskyi: When a country says there are no violations – that is a bad signal for the EU
Podcast on Ukraine Facility implementation: procurement rules, audits, and transparency challenges in managing recovery funds.
Season 2 (2025)
2025-12-14 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 29.2K views · 🏷 Economics, International partners, Public administration
First Deputy Governor of the NBU: The IMF does not come to countries that are doing well
Podcast on NBU policy and hryvnia stability: IMF cooperation, reserves, and exchange rate risks during war.
2025-09-25 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 32.2K views · 🏷 International partners, Public administration, Recovery
Alyona Shkrum: “Right now, we are fighting for every $15 million for reconstruction”
Podcast on Ukraine’s recovery: investments, housing, infrastructure, and financing challenges for rebuilding during war.
2025-09-08 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 27.2K views · 🏷 International partners, Public administration, Public Finance
Head of the Budget Committee of the VRU, Roksolana Pidlasa: “I don’t understand why some parliamentary factions vote out of spite”
Podcast on Ukraine’s state budget: funding, salaries, pensions, and international support amid wartime fiscal challenges.
2025-06-25 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 20.5K views · 🏷 Economics, International partners, Local governance
Mayor of Mykolaiv: The hardest part of being a mayor is the daily battle against temptation.
Podcast on frontline Mykolaiv: budget constraints, recovery efforts, international support, and resilience of the city during war.
2025-05-26 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 👁 7.9K views · 🏷 Education, International partners, Local governance
School Meal Reform: Why upgrading school kitchens is not only - and not so much - about food
Podcast on school nutrition reform in Ukraine: modernization of kitchens, procurement transparency, and efficient use of public funds.
2025-05-22 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 2 · 🏷 International partners, Public administration, Recovery
Serhii Sukhomlyn: “We Need to Build Proper Homes to Bring People Back from Europe”
Podcast on rebuilding Ukraine: infrastructure, housing, and new financial models to improve efficiency and support recovery.