Parliament Supported Draft State Budget for 2025 in the First Reading

Today, October 31, the Parliament of Ukraine approved the draft State Budget for 2025 in the first reading. The decision was supported by 247 Members of the Parliament.

The revenues of the general fund of the state budget (excluding grants and inter-budgetary transfers) are planned at UAH 2,007 billion, which is by UAH 411 billion more than this year.

The expenditures of the general fund of the state budget are planned at UAH 3,644 billion, which is by UAH 535 billion more than this year’s figure.

The total allocation for national Security and Defense in 2025 is UAH 2,223 billion (about 26% of GDP), which is by UAH 530 billion more than the budgeted amount for this year and by UAH 46 billion more than the 2024 plan, considering recent amendments to the state budget passed by the Parliament.

In preparing the document for the first reading, 2,099 proposals were submitted by MPs, factions, groups, and committees of the Parliament regarding the draft 2025 State Budget, which was submitted by the Government to Parliament on September 14.

The conclusions of the Budget Committee include the following provisions:

• Allocating the remaining funds from the educational subsidy to the special fund of the Ministry of Education in 2025, with further distribution as per the Government’s decision, taking into account the intended purpose and the implementation of measures in the field of education.
• Distribution of funds for the implementation of public investment projects.
• Credit of the revenue source for the creation of the state road fund in full to the general fund (UAH 43 billion) and directing the freed-up funds to reduce the state budget deficit, as well as to increase priority expenditures, particularly for national security and defense.

"The state budget approved in the first reading responds to the needs of the time. Defense funding and social programs are the priorities we have defined together with Parliament. This approach allows us to balance urgent needs with the strategic tasks the country is facing," said Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko.

According to the regulations, the second reading of the draft law on the State Budget of Ukraine for the following year must be completed no later than November 20, with final adoption by no later than December 1.