The budget of the security and defense sector in 2023 is proposed to be at the level of at least 17,8% of GDP - the NSDC decision

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine proposes to the Government to provide in the draft Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2023" a general financial resource for ensuring the national security and defense of Ukraine in the amount of at least 17,8 % of GDP for the security and defense sector of Ukraine, with allocating at least 1 141 108,1 million hryvnias for the needs of the security and defense sector of Ukraine.

The NSDC decision "On proposals to the draft Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2023" on articles related to the provision of national security and defense of Ukraine was approved by the Decree of the Head of State dated September 15, 2022, №651/2022.

This decision provides for an increase in the amount of spending on national security and defense of Ukraine in 2023, taking into account the military and political situation and the requirements of budget legislation.

In 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine was instructed to take measures to ensure priority financing of the activities of the subjects of Ukraine's security and defense sector in priority areas.

The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine is tasked with ensuring timely and complete financing of the State Budget of Ukraine expenditures provided for the bodies of Ukraine's security and defense sector in 2023.

The bodies of Ukraine's security and defense sector are instructed to take measures during 2023 regarding:

strengthening financial discipline in the field of managing budget allocations and ensuring targeted, efficient and effective use of funds determined by the budget;

reduction of receivables from the performance of state contracts for the purchase of goods, works, and services for defense purposes and prevention of the formation of overdue receivables.

Control over the implementation of the Council's decision is entrusted to Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov.

The NSDC Secretary emphasized that the increase in spending on financing the security and defense sector is the most important priority of the government, especially now, in the conditions of large-scale russian aggression.

"There is still a lot of very tough and complicated work ahead of us to de-occupy our territories. We need weapons, our military must be provided with everything necessary in the first place, - he stated. - This is the principled position of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who keeps his finger on the pulse along the entire perimeter of the frontline".