Poroshenko: 5% of GDP should be allocated for defense and security in draft state budget 2017

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said this at the meeting of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, the press service of the Head of State reports.

"The key position to be ensured in this draft state budget is to allocate 5% of GDP for the expenditures of security and defense. This year, I will closely monitor the fulfillment of another NSDC decision – to allocate 3% of these 5% exclusively for defense. I would like to emphasize that the overall volume of funding equals UAH 129 billion," Poroshenko said.

The Head of State stressed that the process of construction of new army, new Armed Forces remained his top priority.

According to the President, another priority is to strengthen the rule of law in the country and finance the Ministry of the Interior, National Police and National Guard.

“We must correct distortions regarding the financing of the State Border Service. We must increase funding of the Security Service, which must respond to the risks of terrorist threats’ increase,” the President said and addressed Head of the Security Service Vasyl Hrytsak to submit proposals on funding anti-terrorist units.

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