Ukrainian PM urges vote to pay for war

Ukrainian leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk. jbor / Shutterstock

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s prime minister says parliament needs to come up with more money to pay the mounting costs from the war against pro-Russian separatists and to rebuild infrastructure shattered by the fighting.

Yatsenyuk urged parliament Monday to amend this year’s budget and come up with an additional 9.1 billion hryvnias ($774 million) to pay the military, and 3.3 billion hryvnias ($280 million) for repairs.

Yatsenyuk said the government would raise some of the money through a one-time 1.5 percent war tax on incomes, and by eliminating supplementary compensation for public officials.

Parliament is to vote Thursday on his proposals.

It will also hold a vote of confidence in Yatsenyuk, which could open the way to new elections.

Yatsenyuk said last week he is resigning but remains prime minister pending the vote.