What's happened
Russia plans to increase its defense budget by 25% in 2025, reaching 13.5 trillion rubles ($145 billion). This marks a significant shift from previous plans to reduce military spending, reflecting the ongoing war in Ukraine. Defense will account for 32% of the total budget, surpassing social expenditures.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, Russia's defense budget will account for over 40% of total government spending, surpassing social welfare allocations. The New York Times notes that this marks the highest military spending since the Cold War, indicating a long-term commitment to military operations. Al Jazeera highlights that the reversal from planned cuts to defense spending underscores the Kremlin's focus on military readiness amid ongoing conflict. The Moscow Times adds that the budget reflects a historical high in defense spending as the war in Ukraine shows no signs of ending.
How we got here
Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia's military spending has tripled. The Kremlin's focus on military expenditure has intensified as the war continues, leading to a reversal of earlier budget plans that aimed to cut defense spending.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.