Ukraine’s lawmakers approved the 2015 state budget as the country seeks to unlock the next tranche of a $17 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund.
The budget was backed today by 233 lawmakers in the 450-seat Kiev-based legislature at 4:30 a.m. after debating tax-code changes and other issues since 10 a.m. yesterday. Supporters of the bill sang the national anthem and Cabinet members hugged one another after the legislation was approved.
