The Verkhovna Rada approved the draft state budget for 2019 which is balanced and realistic.

This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman.

The draft budget was submitted in line with the requirements of the Budget Code in September, it passed all the discussion procedures and was approved by the beginning of December for the first time. It opened the opportunities for Ukraine not only to ensure the smooth start of the next fiscal period, but also to enhance cooperation with international partners in macro-financial assistance programs.

"We have stability both at the end of this year, and in the next year. The year of 2019 won’t be easy both in the economic and political planes. But we have a budget - balanced and realistic", said Volodymyr Groysman. "We have preserved all the programs – in the sectors of the security and defense, medicine, education, we will build roads, we will prolong decentralization."

The Head of Government thanked MPs for the opportunity to adopt all the necessary decisions that would allow the country to develop.