Ukraine’s defense budget for 2018 was discussed at a meeting presided over by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov.
First Deputy Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk, Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Hrytsak, the leadership of the National Guard, the National Police and intelligence agencies took part in the discussion, the NSDC press service reported.
According to the NSDC secretary, the defense budget will be formed in line with the National Security Strategy of Ukraine and will be at least 5 percent of the gross domestic product. “This position is already becoming an axiom for our country’s budget policy,” he stressed.
The funding will be provided from the general fund, which will reach Hr 156.4 billion. The financing from the special fund will be formed based solely on proposals of law-enforcement ministries and departments and will amount to about Hr 6.3 billion, putting the total funding at least at Hr 162.7 billion, the NSDC secretary said.
Turchynov stressed that when planning the budget, it is necessary to take into account the issue of increasing salaries for Ukrainian servicemen.
In addition, during the meeting the issue of developing the defense industry of Ukraine was discussed.
According to the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of defense enterprises. “We need modern weapons and we have to rely first of all on our own capacities. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure financing of the introduction of new technologies and modernization of leading defense enterprises,” Turchynov said adding that the Security and Defense Sector Development Concept envisages such financing at the level of 0.5 percent of GDP.
