Ukrainian Defense Minister asks to double the defense budget – BBC Russian

• December 12, 2014

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According to the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, the country has only one threat – on the eastern border

Ukraine needs to double its defense budget and bring it up to $ 3 billion in order to successfully deal with the pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country, according to Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak .

As he said in Parliament, this amount includes an additional $ 100 million intended for the purchase of weapons abroad.

Defense Minister also called for increased recruitment into the army.

More than 4 million people were killed and nearly a million residents of eastern Ukraine became refugees as a result of an eight-month armed conflict between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists.

Ukraine and NATO condemned Russia for helping separatists arms and manpower. Russia rejects these accusations.

Moscow says it sends to the east of Ukraine only humanitarian aid.

Stepan Poltorak said Friday, speaking in Parliament that the army needed more advanced weaponry.

The number of troops deployed in eastern Ukraine, next year will be increased from 232 thousand to 250 thousand.

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak believes that the military budget should be doubled

According to the minister, today Ukraine faces only one threat – on the eastern border.

The annual budget is expected to be held a hearing in Parliament before the end of the year.

fragile truce

Ukraine has repeatedly asked Western countries to provide it with modern weapons.

However, NATO countries pledged in response to a supply of auxiliary equipment and equipment, for fear that giving Kiev heavy weapons cause a negative reaction in Moscow.

On Thursday, Prime Minister of Ukraine Yatsenyuk said that the funding of the defense budget will increase by reducing social benefits

He also called for a conference of donor countries to help Ukraine avoid default on the national debt.

So far, NATO decided to supply the Ukrainian army heavy weapons

The IMF warned that Ukraine is waiting for next year’s budget deficit of $ 15 billion.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire in the east of Ukraine in recent days, seems to have saved.

President Poroshenko said earlier that the last 24 hours have been the first, when the two sides adhere to the ceasefire agreement.

The two sides signed a ceasefire agreement in September in Minsk, but since then, according to the UN in the crossfire were killed over a thousand people.