Ukraine’s Defense Minister says military budget must be doubled

PanARMENIAN.Net - Ukraine must double its military budget next year to $3bn to fund the fight against pro-Russian forces, the Defense Minister has said, according to BBC News.

Stepan Poltorak told parliament that this figure included an extra $110mln for buying weapons abroad. He also said the armed forces would have to conscript more soldiers.

More than 4,000 people have been killed and almost a million displaced in the eight-month conflict. Ukraine and NATO countries have accused Russia of sending weapons and soldiers to aid the militias - a charge Russia denies.

Poltorak told parliament on Friday, Dec 12, that the extra money was needed to buy better equipment for the military.

The number of soldiers serving in the east of the country would also have to be increased from 232,000 at present to 250,000 next year, he said.

He said the government planned to increase the number of conscripts as well as professional soldiers. The annual budget is expected to be passed before the end of the year.

On Thursday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said his country would have to increase defense expenditure at the cost of slashing social payments. He also called for an international donor conference to help Ukraine avoid defaulting on its debts.

The International Monetary Fund has warned that Ukraine faces a $15bn budget shortfall next year.