Defense spending in Russia remains almost at the same level despite the fact that the Russian government has announced military budget cuts in 2018 due to the completion of the Syria campaign, according to Glavred.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $700 billion defense policy bill on Tuesday, backing President Donald Trump's call for a bigger, stronger military, but failing to decide how to fund the massive spending increase, according to Reuters.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said the draft state budget for 2018 provides for UAH 165 billion for security and defense.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed into force with a relevant decree the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine with proposals to the draft Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2018" in part of the costs of the national security and defense, the presidential administration reports.
Ukraine will be able to double the defense budget from the current UAH 130 billion, or US$4.84 billion, only with the development of national economy, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said during a Q&A hour in the Verkhovna Rada.