Ukraine's Parliament approved the 2026 budget on Wednesday, planning to allocate nearly a third of the country's gross domestic product to defence as the war with Russia rages on, APA reports citing Reuters.
Ukraine has been rocked by a political crisis following an investigation into corruption in the energy sector. The budget vote was seen by political analysts as a litmus test for Parliament to be able to maintain unity and pass key decisions during a critical stage of the war.
"This is an important signal of Ukraine's resilience and securing a stable financial provision for the next year's needs," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.
"The priorities are clear: ensuring our defence, social programmes, and the ability to rebuild our lives after Russia's attacks."
The budget was approved by 257 lawmakers despite criticism from opposition deputies who demanded higher wages for soldiers and an increase in other social spending. Lawmakers shouted "Shame" as the vote proceeded.
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