“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

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.
2025-06-25 · 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.

Season 1 (2024)

2024-10-03 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 1 · 👁 24.6K views · 🏷 Economics, Public Finance, Tax policy

On the budget gap, economic mobilization and tax increases

Ukraine’s budget deficit, tax policy, and economic mobilization: how to finance war and sustain the economy.
2024-08-05 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 1 · 👁 12.4K views · 🏷 Economics, Public administration, Recovery

About macroeconomic indicators, inflation and "black swans"

About macroeconomic indicators and their impact on the daily life of every Ukrainian. Why is inflation important?
2024-05-13 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 1 · 👁 20.5K views · 🏷 Economics, Public administration

Budget Talks - On public procurement, "eggs for 17" and DOT

Podcast on public procurement in Ukraine: Prozorro reforms, wartime changes, and transparency challenges in managing public funds.
2024-02-12 · Podcast · 🎧 Season 1 · 👁 5.9K views · 🏷 Economics, Public administration, Public Finance

Budget-2024. About the “sin tax,” the dollar and the price of buckwheat

Podcast on Ukraine’s 2024 budget: taxes, exchange rate, inflation, and funding challenges amid wartime economic pressures.