Ukraine to Maintain Defence Spending at 5% of GDP at Least in 2022-2024

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree to enact the decision of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) of 14 April, which proposes that the Cabinet of Ministers should provide budget funding for national security and defence at 5% of the planned gross domestic product at least.

The document notes that the budget declaration should stipulate the right to provide state guarantees for debt repayment to the enterprises involved in programmes to enhance the defence capacity and security of the state.

NSDC proposes that the Cabinet of Ministers should ensure an increase in expenditures on national security and defence of Ukraine, taking into account the military-political situation and legislative requirements, during the preparation of draft laws on the state budget of Ukraine for 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Meanwhile, the press centre of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) reports that six ceasefire violations were recorded in the JFO area in Donbas over past 24 hours, on 18 May. Russian-sponsored militants opened fire on Ukrainian soldiers from grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns, and small arms. Ukrainian defenders sustained no combat losses.

Bohdan Marusyak