2017 defense budget to exceed 129B hryvnia, - NSDC

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine considered the 2017 defense budget at a meeting on Tuesday.

Censor.NET reports referring to the NSDC press service

"The council has defined the defense and security policy priorities and a corresponding budget required for their fulfillment. It has been decided to task the Cabinet of Ministers to provide funding for the defense and security sector within the 2017 state budget and pursuant to the National Security Strategy at at least 5 percent of GDP, that, given the macroeconomic indicators approved by the government will exceed 129 billion hryvnia (approx. $4.86 billion)," the statement reads.

The meeting has also adopted a basic set of measures to counter hybrid threats as well as the key government policies to prevent threats to national sovereignty and the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

According to Turchynov, the NSDC will meet again at the end of the week "to consider the adjustment of the state defense budget for increasing the security and defense spending for the current year."

"The issue of applying personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) will also be raised," the secretary added.