Russia has earmarked its largest defense budget to date for next year, as its invasion of Ukraine has continued since February 2022. The defense allocation for next year will comprise a staggering 32.5% of the country’s total annual budget.
According to the Associated Press, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the Russian government’s 2025 budget proposal on December 1. The defense spending is set at 13.5 trillion rubles (approximately $125.5 billion).
Russia’s defense spending accounted for 28.3% of its national budget this year. Over the past ten days, the Russian parliament had already approved next year’s budget, and only Putin’s final signature was awaited.
On the same day, the new European Union (EU) leadership visited Ukraine, pledging continued support. The European Parliament, the EU’s legislative body, held elections in June and approved the new EU Commission on November 27. The 27 commission members, including the re-elected EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, commenced their five-year term on December 1.
On their first day in office, European Council President António Costa, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, and European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi immediately visited Kyiv. They met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss EU-level support measures. Costa stated on X (formerly Twitter), “From day one of the war, the EU has stood by the side of Ukraine,” adding, “From day one of our mandate, we are reaffirming our unwavering support to the Ukrainian people.”
Overnight, Russia launched a large-scale airstrikes on Ukraine, deploying 78 drones and missiles across the country. On December 1, Russia claimed that Ukrainian forces suffered 1,565 casualties along the main front lines.
