Russia starts pouring more into war after Putin judged Alaska talks with US would bring no “acceptable” deal to end fighting — Bloomberg
Russia's 2026 budget deficit has nearly doubled to more than $81 billion, as war spending blows past the original plan.
In a significant shift from previous years, Russia's military spending has surged to unprecedented levels, with President Vladimir Putin directing funds towards a war that he believes will not yield an acceptable outcome. According to Bloomberg, Russia's defense budget is projected to reach $199 billion by the end of 2026, marking a 40% increase from the initial budget set in late 2025.
This comes after Putin's decision to reject talks with the United States in Alaska, deeming them unfruitful, and instead focusing on Ukraine. The Kremlin's assessment of the situation led to accelerated payments to defense firms and heightened war-related expenditures. Despite Russia's acknowledgment of the prolonged nature of the conflict, the country continues to understate the true cost.
The projected budget deficit for 2026 has nearly doubled, reaching $81 billion, from the initially planned $44 billion, largely financed through increased domestic borrowing and gold sales. This trend of escalating defense spending is expected to continue, with Russia planning for a protracted war in Ukraine, with military outlays expected to peak at $200 billion in 2027 before gradually declining.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
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