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Ukraine to spend 5.2% of GDP on army — finance minister

“Ukraine is in a state of armed conflict, that is why we have no moral right to cut defense spending,” Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko said

Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko Maxim Nikitin/TASS

Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko

© Maxim Nikitin/TASS

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KIEV, December 26. /TASS/. Ukraine plans to use 5.2% of its GDP on army spending, Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko said on Friday.

“As many as 5.2% of GDP will go to the army,” she told a briefing. “Ukraine is in a state of armed conflict, that is why we have no moral right to cut defense spending.”

Also, she said that the state “has no right to put the burden of war on the shoulders of its citizens.” “The army is with the people. The authorities are with the army,” she said.

According to the Ukrainian defence ministry, the country’s defense budget in 2014 was 1.25% of GDP.

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