REUTERS
Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has announced his government plans to raise spending on defense from UAH 143.6 billion, or US$5.49 billion, in 2017 to UAH 164.9 billion, or US$6.3 billion, in 2018.
"This is our consolidated position so that spending on defense could be increased next year," he said while presenting the draft budget for 2018 in Kyiv on Friday, September 15.
Read alsoUkraine to allocate $6.3 bln for security, defense in 2018 – Poroshenko
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft national budget for 2018, which was tabled in parliament on September 15.
The government's draft budget for 2018 envisages an increase in Ukraine's GDP by 3%, as well as 7% inflation and a budget deficit at 2.4% of GDP. According to the government's estimates, budget revenue in 2018 is expected to grow by 15% from 2017, to UAH 1.118 trillion, or US$42.8 billion.