The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has also stated that he will not be able to reduce financing for the army in 2021.
Ukraine is beginning to build two naval bases to protect the Black Sea region. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday in his annual address to deputies on Ukraine’s internal and external situation.
“We are starting to build two state Ukrainian naval bases to protect the Black Sea region”, – he said. The President also said that modernization of military ships, such as frigate “Hetman Sagaidachny”, training of landing boats “Centaur” is underway and anti-ship cruise missile “Neptune” has been adopted for service in the country.
The President of Ukraine also noted that he will not allow reducing the financing of the army in 2021.
“In 2020, the budget for the army was the largest in the history of Ukraine. During the coronation crisis, it did not decrease by a single hryvnia, and please do not disperse ‘zrad’ (treason) that in 2021 we will reduce funds for the army. I will not allow it,” he said, speaking at the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday with an annual message to deputies on the internal and external situation of Ukraine.
The President noted that financing will be no less than this year – more than 117 billion hryvnia ($4.12 billion at the current exchange rate).
Zelensky also noted that the authorities are strengthening the army. “The U.S. Congress approved the military aid to Ukraine in the amount of $250 million, in the UK we signed an agreement for £1,250 million to strengthen the Ukrainian Navy. We are expecting [delivery] of additional high-speed boats of the Island class,” he explained. The President added that Kiev together with Ankara will produce corvettes, engines and military drones as well as develop air defense systems.
He noted that Ukraine continues to modernize its military equipment and tests of new weapons, including multiple rocket launchers.