Putin Approves Record $126B Defense Spending – A Third of Russia’s Budget

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved an unprecedented defense budget, allocating a significant 32.5% of the government’s total spending for 2025.

The budget, published on Sunday, earmarks approximately $126 billion (13.5 trillion rubles) for national defense, marking an increase of about $28 billion (three trillion rubles) over the previous record set for 2024.

Russia’s war in Ukraine, the largest conflict in Europe since World War II, continues to escalate. Moscow is making gains at key positions along the front lines, particularly in the Kursk region, which was the site of Ukraine’s only major military success this year during a counteroffensive.

The newly approved three-year budget includes a slight reduction in military spending for 2026 and 2027. Lawmakers in both houses of the Russian parliament have already approved the budget.

The prolonged and brutal nature of the war has significantly strained the resources of both Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine has received substantial financial and military support from its Western allies, including a recent pledge of more than half a billion dollars in military equipment from Germany on Monday.

The future of aid from the United States, particularly after President-elect Donald Trump assumes office, remains uncertain. While Russia may have a greater quantity of weapons, ammunition, and personnel, the ongoing strain on its economy and population is becoming increasingly evident.