Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko will ask leaders of parliamentary factions to pass amendments to the state budget for this year concerning the financing of the Armed Forces.

Yuschenko said this on Wednesday while introducing Ivan Svyda as the new chief of the general staff of the armed forces.

"I believe that my address to the parliament of the country, leaders of main political forces will be heard and that the issue of the financial provision of Ukraine's Armed Forces in 2009 will be raised during the current session of the Verkhovna Rada and we will reach a positive conclusion," Yuschenko said.

The president once again stressed that the insufficient financing of Ukraine's army was a result of the policies of Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's government.

"The disorganized and imbalanced army is obviously the aim of the premier's policies," he said.