KIEV, Jan. 20 - Ukraine had recorded 2% of gross domestic product budget deficit in 2005, lower than initially planned, as taxes' revenue exceeded forecasts, Finance Minister Viktor Pynzenyk said.

The budget deficit totaled in 8.6 bln hryvnias ($1.7 bln), compared with 10.2 bln hryvnia ($2 bln) initially planned, Pynzenyk said at a press conference today in Kiev.