(MENAFN- UkrinForm) According to an Ukrinform correspondent, 261 MPs supported the bill in the second reading and 257 in the final vote.

“State budget revenues amount to UAH 2.918 trillion, including UAH 2.625 trillion in the general fund and UAH 293 billion in the special fund,” Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko announced, presenting the main parameters of the document.

He noted that revenues in the draft budget for the second reading were increased, in particular by accounting for additional proceeds from higher taxation of bank profits.

State budget expenditures for 2026 total UAH 4.781 trillion: UAH 4.393 trillion in the general fund and UAH 388 billion in the special fund. The lion's share of projected spending is defense resources-UAH 2.8 trillion. About UAH 1.3 trillion of this will go to salaries for servicemen.

Other priorities include education (nearly UAH 279 billion), social protection (UAH 467 billion), and healthcare (UAH 258 billion). The document also provides for increases in several social standards. The minimum wage will rise from UAH 8,000 to UAH 8,647. The general subsistence minimum will increase from UAH 2,920 to UAH 3,209. For working‐age persons it will grow from UAH 3,028 to UAH 3,328, and for those who have lost working capacity from UAH 2,361 to UAH 2,595.

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The maximum budget deficit was raised by almost UAH 6 billion to UAH 1.9 trillion. The deficit level amounts to 18.5% of GDP

“The budget maintains the main priorities that were set when it was submitted. First of all, this is ensuring financing for the security and defense sector, education, social protection of citizens who need state support, and healthcare,” Marchenko added.

He stressed that the budget is balanced, but the high deficit is inevitably preserved due to the continuation of Russian aggression.

Before the vote, Finance Minister Marchenko, speaking in the Verkhovna Rada, asked MPs to support the budget.

“I would like to ask you to support the draft budget for 2026. We are now in rather difficult negotiations. And we need this signal to show that we have a budget and effective cooperation between the government and parliament,” the minister said

He emphasized that adoption of the budget will allow Ukraine to conduct effective negotiations with partners to obtain the necessary funds to balance the state finances.

“I want to remind you that next year we need to generate more than USD 45 billion additionally from international partners. Therefore, the budget and effective voting for the budget are very, very necessary. That is why I ask you to find the courage to support this draft budget today and give us the opportunity to continue our work,” Marchenko added.

As noted by Budget Committee Chairperson Roksolana Pidlasa, the key changes insisted upon by MPs before the second reading concern the allocation of 4% of personal income tax to local budgets, earmarked for energy payments and repayment of tariff debt. At the same time, the subsidy for local budgets to cover tariff differences-UAH 15.2 billion-was canceled.

The Ministry of Defense was also allocated an additional UAH 1 billion for weapons and military equipment procurement (through redistribution of resources from the“military reserve” program).

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Meanwhile, the provision on raising teachers' salaries in the government's version remained: from January 1 by 30% and from September 1 by another 20%. However, before the second reading an additional UAH 4.8 billion was allocated to the program supporting the prestige of teaching, which will make it possible to later consider further increases in teachers' salaries. Earlier, a group of MPs had insisted on a more substantial increase-to the level of three minimum wages. The Ministry of Finance criticized this proposal due to lack of funds, and the government did not include it in the draft budget prepared for the second reading.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada supported the draft law on the state budget for 2026 in the first reading on October 22. According to regulations, consideration in the second reading had to be completed no later than November 20, and final adoption no later than December 1.

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