Government budgets 5% of GDP for financing of Ukrainian army in 2018

Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk said this during an hour of questions to the government at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We have identified specific areas which received priority attention and funding: education, medicine, social sphere, defense, support for farmers, roads, decentralization and energy efficiency," Danyliuk said.

He stressed that defense and security spending was set in the draft state budget at 5% of GDP and totaled about UAH 165 billion (about USD 6.3 billion).

"Regardless of the economic situation or the situation in the east, the development of Ukrainian army is the primary task of the government. Not just military financing but also reform is important," Danyliuk added.

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