РНБОУ National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

Oleksiy Danilov: Increased financing of the security and defense sector is a priority for President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The Law on State Budget for 2020, which was submitted for signature by the President of Ukraine, provides that financing of the security and defense sector will increase by 33,8 billion hryvnias compared to the current year, and will make 5,45% of GDP. This was stressed by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov.

The NSDC Secretary stated that financing of the security and defense sector of Ukraine is a priority for the Head of State. According to him, on the insistence of the President of Ukraine, expenditures for the needs of the defense forces are foreseen at the level of 3% of GDP for the first time under the national security law.

Mr. Danilov also reminded that on November 2 this year, the NSDC of Ukraine adopted the decision on proposals for the draft Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2020" in regards to articles related to ensuring national security and defense; the decision was enacted by the Decree of the President of Ukraine №795/2019.

This document, which has become the basis for relevant budgetary indicators, provides for financing of the needs of the security and defense sector of Ukraine to the extent of no less than 245 801,8 million hryvnias. "These expenditures will allow the security and defense sector bodies of Ukraine to fully accomplish the tasks of ensuring national defense capability and state sovereignty", - the NSDC Secretary stressed adding that financial resources should be used in a good manner.

Mr. Danilov pointed out that the NSDC decision was preceded by many discussions and meetings, the last of which, according to him, "took place in the office of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy".

The Government should take steps next year to ensure that priority financing is allocated to the activities of the security and defense sector actors in Ukraine in such priority areas as, in particular, the development of the security and defense sector in accordance with NATO standards, as well as the implementation of measures to develop, produce and procure new types of weapons and military equipment.

According to Oleksiy Danilov, the priority areas of financing also include, among others, the strengthening of the state air defense system, the implementation of the state cybersecurity policy, the implementation of the National Intelligence Program for 2016-2020, the strengthening of counterintelligence protection and the fight against terrorism and subversive activities.