PUTIN - THE FAMOUS IDEOLOGY

He confirmed that Russia would begin cutting military spending starting next year and over the next three years, though inter-ministerial decisions weren’t finalized yet
themoscowtimes.com
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reuters.com
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business-standard.com
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He blasted NATO’s 5 % GDP defense target, calling it a “purchase scheme” for the U.S. military-industrial complex, and stressed that Russia’s spending cuts reflect economic prudence in light of inflation and budgetary pressure
reuters.com
.In 2025, Russia’s defense expenditure surged to ~6.3 % of GDP (a 25 % increase), making up nearly one-third of the federal budget .

Despite this high level, both Lavrov and Putin signaled a strategic shift toward fiscal restraint, attributing possible cuts to economic constraints and NATO’s aggressive defense strategy
courthousenews.com
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reuters.com
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reuters.com
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Putin framed the cuts not as a sign of weakness but as a measured response, in contrast to what he describes as a destabilizing Western arms race