The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine  fulfills the requirements of the current legislation for the third time and timely presents the draft state budget for 2019. According to the plans, draft state budget for the next year envisages budget revenues to the tune of UAH 1292.7 trillion and stipulates the GDP growth at the level of 3% with 7.4% of inflation. The draft budget, entitled "The budget for developing the country," was presented by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman.

"We are finalizing the document, which gives a green light to the budget process," Volodymyr Groysman said. "It is important that this budget is not only realistic, but also supports the development of the national economy and the implementation of the necessary changes in the army, in education, health care, infrastructure, as well as the fulfillment of the tasks defined by the development strategy. The budget should answer the question of how we should live in 2019".

The Head of Government stressed that all structural  reforms  launched in previous years remain priority directions in the draft. Among them are the financing of the army, preservation of the rates of energy modernization of the country and increase of energy independence, active financing of roads.

"I have said before that roads are an important priority. And we will not back down", the Prime Minister noted.

According to him, similar programs will be preserved for agricultural producers. "We leave unchanged the support programs for farming, livestock sector - cattle subsidies, as well as a program for supporting gardens and vineyards. More jobs should be created in the villages", Volodymyr Groysman claimed.

Another unwavering priority is to deepen decentralization process. The key instrument in this area is the State Fund for Regional Development, as well as aid funds to support establishment of consolidated communities.

"Education. Today it needs more resources than we can afford. But we do not halt the program for the modernization of the elementary school - and here we are waiting for more initiative by local authorities. The modern health care system. It is very hard to  restore a system in one year that has been destroyed for 25 years. But ... We are starting a reform of emergency medical care. The pilot projects will be implemented in 5-6 regions. We will fight for quality (services)", the Head of Government emphasized.

Apart from that, according to the Prime Minister, from next year a full process of payment for secondary care services- ultrasound investigation, consultations, amedical tests will begin.

"We begin monetization of subsidies and modernization of pension payments. Our initiatives aimed to support birth rate will be long-lasting. This is the minimum that we have to do for the little Ukrainians", the Head of Government said.

Another overriding priority is the culture. "This is our historical heritage, which we must pass  to the next  generations," the Prime Minister emphasized.

He stressed that this presentation of the draft state budget is the beginning of the budget process.

"The next step is three-month discussions. But this is our third budget. The country is living. If we  have not had a debt to the tune of UAH 1.3 trillion, we would have done hundreds of times more than we can afford now. And our systemic actions are felt",  the Head of Government stated.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine endorsed the decision to submit the draft law on the state budget of Ukraine for 2019 to the Parliament unanimously.