Reference News Network, July 1st. According to RIA Novosti on June 27th, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia's defense spending accounts for 6.3% of its GDP, about 1.35 trillion rubles (approximately 17.2 billion US dollars), which is no small amount.

Putin told journalists: "Now talking about the spending itself - 6.3%. 6.3% of Russia's GDP is allocated for defense, is it a lot or a little? It's 1.35 trillion rubles, and our entire GDP is 22.3 trillion rubles. So, is 1.35 trillion out of 22.3 trillion a lot or a little? It's not small at all!"

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia plans to reduce defense spending in the future, while the West is doing the opposite, planning to increase defense spending.

Putin told journalists during his briefing on the visit to Belarus: "We plan to reduce defense spending. We intend to do so in the next year, the following year, and the next three years. Although there has not yet been a final agreement between the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Economic Development, overall, everyone is considering this direction. While Europe is the opposite, thinking about how to increase their spending."

Putin made a two-day visit to Belarus. On the 27th, he attended the meeting of the Supreme Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission in Minsk.

According to Reuters on June 27th, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the 27th that Russia is considering cutting military spending starting next year, which contrasts sharply with NATO's plan to increase defense spending over the next decade.

NATO allies unanimously agreed on the 25th to raise their collective spending target to 5% of GDP over the next decade, citing what they call the long-term threat from Russia, as well as the need to strengthen defensive capabilities.

Putin responded at a press conference in Minsk that NATO's spending would be used "for purchasing and supporting their military-industrial complex" from the United States, which is NATO's business, not Russia's.

"The most important thing now is that we are planning to cut defense spending. For us, in the next year and the following year, in the next three years, we are making plans for this," he said.

Putin said that there has not yet been a final agreement between the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, and the economic departments. "But overall, everyone is thinking in this direction. While Europe is considering how to increase expenditure. So, who is preparing for some aggressive actions? Us or them?"

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia has significantly increased defense spending.

The conflict shows no signs of ending, and has further escalated in recent weeks, as negotiations have made no significant progress towards a ceasefire or a permanent solution.

Putin said that Russia appreciates the efforts of US President Trump to end the war.

"He recently said that it has proven to be much more difficult than it appears to the outside world. Well, that's true," Putin said.

Trump said this week that he believes Putin wants to find a solution to the conflict, but Ukraine and many of its European allies believe that the leader of the Kremlin has no real interest in a peace agreement.

Putin said that the negotiating teams of Russia and Ukraine have remained in contact, and Moscow is prepared to return another 3,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers killed.

Due to the pressure of reduced energy revenues and the Russian Central Bank's attempt to lower inflation, Russia's economic growth is slowing sharply.

In 2025, Russia increased its defense spending by a quarter, reaching 6.3% of GDP, the highest level since the Cold War. Defense spending accounted for 32% of the total federal budget expenditures in 2025.

In recent years, the arms factories have been working day and night, and the state has also spent a lot of money to issue bonuses to attract soldiers to enlist, and to provide compensation to the families of the deceased.

(Translated by Wei Lianglei, Xu Yanhong)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7522010075536425482/

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