The Verkhovna Rada has published the draft State Budget of Ukraine for 2018, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, with a deficit target increased compared with the initial version by UAH 3.9 billion, up to UAH 81.8 billion.
The Ukrainian Finance Ministry will prepare a draft state budget of Ukraine for 2018 for the second reading in keeping with the budgetary conclusions of the Verkhovna Rada and submit it to the parliament in two weeks, according to the ministry's press service.
The Ukrainian Finance Ministry will transfer to the general fund of the state budget US$1.318 billion received from the placement of Ukraine's $3 bln-worth external state loan bonds minus the cost of the purchase of Eurobonds-2015, according to the ministry website.
Ukraine's Minister of Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv says the draft national budget for 2018 has already been endorsed by all ministries and is to be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada for consideration within the timeframe established by law, i.e. before September 15, 2017, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
Some US$1.1 billion, or about UAH 30 billion, confiscated from former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his entourage have been transferred to the account of the State Treasury; however, revenue exceeding the target can only be used after the amendments are made to State Budget, according to the Ukrainian Finance Ministry's website.