Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council to consider, endorse defense budget for 2017 on Tuesday

The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council will consider a defense budget for 2017 at its meeting on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

"I am returning from Dnipro to the National Security and Defense Council now, where we will endorse a military budget for 2017. It will amount to 5% [of GDP], and I hope UAH 129 billion [$1/UAH 26.6] will be allotted for the defense and security sector," Poroshenko said in opening a new kindergarten in the village of Slobozhanske in Dnipropetrovsk region.

The financing of the armed forces is a priority for Ukraine now, and therefore "the country is giving away everything for the defense and security sector," he said.

"This is necessary for a Ukrainian warrior to be well trained, well prepared, well dressed, well fed, and well armed, as he is a symbol of our independence," Poroshenko said.

It was reported earlier that Ukraine's budget for 2016 also envisioned defense spending in the amount of 5% of GDP.