Poroshenko: Ukraine spends more money on the army than any NATO country contributes to the Alliance
Ukraine spends 6% of its GDP on the defense sector, which is more than NATO’s member countries spend to maintain their minimum obligations to the Alliance, stated by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, speaking at the ceremony of handing over two American Island-class patrol boats that took place at the US Coast Guard shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland, Ukrinform reports.
"Our military obligations are 6% of the GDP. This figure is now higher than minimal obligations for NATO members,” he said. At the same time, the President stressed that now that the new Ukrainian army is effectively stopping Russian aggression and fighting for freedom and Democracy, it has in fact effectively become the eastern flank of NATO.
Poroshenko also recalled that he submitted to the Parliament amendments to the Constitution that would strengthen the course of Ukraine’s integration into the EU and NATO. "The best way to protect the free world is to protect Ukraine with new defense systems, new targeted sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Russia,” he said.
President Poroshenko was on a working visit in the USA from September 25 to 27 as part of its participation in the UN General Assembly.