Ukraine's defense & security budget in 2016 to account for 5% of GDP – Turchynov

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov announced that the general and special funds of Ukraine's defense budget in 2016 are estimated at about UAH 113 billion.

"The NSDC has approved our country's defense budget, and in keeping with the Strategy for National Security and the Military Doctrine of our country, it is 5% of GDP for security and defense together, including about 3% for defense alone," he told Channel 5.

Turchynov explained that 5% of GDP in the amount projected by the government for the coming year is about UAH 113 billion.

"The general fund of the budget will allocate UAH 100 billion of this sum, while the remaining amount will be covered by the special fund and state guarantees," he said.

According to Turchynov, "this is the minimum that allows us to counter aggression."