The current deficit of the national budget of Ukraine amounts to 5% of the GDP, while the planned indicator is 4.5%, informed Minister of Finance of Ukraine Oleksandr Shlapak at a briefing of the Cabinet.

“It was planned that the deficit of the national budget will be 4.5% this year. It has been increased several times as a result of the changes to the national budget by UAH 7.3 bn (US $540 mn)… We have added UAH 7.3 bn and now the deficit of the budget amounts to 5% of the GDP…Based on the absolute numbers, it amounts to UAH 87 bn (US $6.49 bn),” he said.

At that, Shlapak noted that the government will try its best to keep the amount of the deficit at the planned level at year-end.

“I am sure that the government has all possibilities not to exceed the scopes of the budget deficit set by the parliament,” specified the minister.

Following the results of six months, the deficit of the national budget amounted to around UAH 30 bn (US $2.24 bn), according to Shlapak.