The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine sets as the pillars of the draft State Budget for 2018 the economy upturn, growth of export opportunities and preserves the announced previously priorities, namely: proper financing of the Army and social sphere, speeding up repair and overhaul of roads, supporting of programs of energy efficiency and agrarian sector development. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman stressed while presenting key indicators of the draft state budget, prepared for the second reading by the Verkhovna Rada.

"The document is basing on real indicators of economic performance. We must abandon presenting "gifts" such as the budget that is adopted on the eve of the New Year holidays. We must form an efficient state policy and make decisions in advance that will allow the economy to develop," urged Volodymyr Groysman, “And I reassure you: the revenues component of the budget rests on economic growth. It is accumulated due to the development of the economy instead of basing on burden (first of all, tax)."

The Head of Government reminded that for the first time ever the state budget stipulates for the new mechanisms for targeted assistance and lending to the real sector, inter alia, agrarian enterprises, tools to support science and innovations, in particular start-ups. Not least important is the fact that considerable funds have been planned to direct to hold a large-scale reform of primary school and a system of primary health care.

An emphasis is placed as well to the support of cultural programs, financing of the construction of museums, memorials and the development of cinema production, in which, according to the plan, will be invested at least UAH 1 billion.

"This is the budget of clear priorities to satisfy people’s needs ... while the timely approval of the budget is a guarantee of stability and development," accentuated Volodymyr Groysman, “Next year we must demonstrate the ability to pass vital economic laws that will allow us to improve budget revenues and change people’s lives."

Following the discussion, the Government adopted a unanimous decision to submit the draft State Budget to Parliament.