Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced an increase in teachers' salaries and student scholarships from next year despite the war with Russia, DPA reported, BTA reported.
"I have ordered that all social obligations of our state be fully fulfilled and support for people to be increased," Zelensky said in his evening video address.
Earlier yesterday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko introduced the president to the main points of the draft budget for 2026.
Last night, Zelensky announced that education spending would be increased by 66 billion hryvnias (1.35 billion euros), and added that more funds have also been allocated for healthcare.
The deficit set by the government amounts to 18.4% of gross domestic product (about 40.5 billion euro). It is planned that the state spending as a whole will be increased by approximately 8.5 billion euros.
The money for defense will be almost 3.5 billion euros more. Over 2.5 billion euros more have been allocated for pensions. Nearly half of the budget funds - 43% (almost 43 billion euros) will be provided from abroad. Ukraine has been defending itself with the help of the West against Russian aggression for more than three and a half years, DPA notes.