Vladimir Putin. Photo: Gavriil Grigorov / AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the country’s state budget for 2025-2027, which includes a significant increase in defence spending. According to the decree, published on Sunday on the official legal information portal, 13.5 trillion rubles (approximately €126.8 billion) will be allocated for “defence needs” in 2025. This is 24.4% more than in 2024, which is about 6.31% of Russia’s projected gross domestic product (GDP) for the next year. According to Russian media.
These funds for “defence and national security” will account for almost 40% of all public spending. It is higher than the amount allocated to education, healthcare, economy and social policy combined, which underscores the priority of military needs in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Despite the significant increase in defence spending in 2025, the document states that in 2026 and 2027, these expenditures will be slightly reduced. This decision was made after the budget was approved by both houses of the Russian parliament in November last year.
