Searching for money for war. Putin reaches into the pockets of Russians, Kyiv counts on the West

Ukraine's parliament has passed the first reading of the 2024 budget, which includes a significant deficit and increased military spending. The budget has faced numerous amendments, reflecting intense debate. If approved, the deficit will reach 1.7 trillion hryvnias, with defense spending rising by nearly 12%. The government plans to cover over half of the budget through foreign aid and loans, seeking tens of billions of dollars to fill the gap.