Fact Check: "Putin vows to cut military spending despite ongoing Ukraine invasion."
What We Know
Recent reports indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a budget for 2025 that significantly increases military spending, contrary to claims that he intends to cut it. Specifically, around 32.5% of the budget has been allocated for national defense, amounting to approximately 13.5 trillion rubles (over $145 billion), which is an increase from the previous year's allocation of 28.3% (AP News). This decision comes amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has seen Russia intensifying its military efforts.
In June 2025, Putin had made statements suggesting a potential reduction in military spending for the following year, contrasting this with NATO's plans to increase defense budgets (Reuters). However, the approved budget for 2025 reflects a substantial increase rather than a decrease, indicating a shift in priorities as the war continues.
Analysis
The claim that Putin vowed to cut military spending is misleading and lacks context. While he did express intentions to reduce military expenditure in a previous statement, the recent budget approval contradicts that narrative. The increase in military spending is a strategic decision to bolster Russia's military capabilities in light of the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, which is described as Europe's largest military confrontation since World War II (AP News).
The sources reporting on this issue vary in reliability. The Associated Press is generally regarded as a credible news source, providing detailed coverage of the situation in Ukraine and Russia's military strategies (AP News). Conversely, the Reuters report, while credible, reflects a past statement from Putin that does not align with the current budgetary decisions (Reuters). This discrepancy highlights the importance of considering the timing and context of statements made by political leaders, particularly in a rapidly evolving situation like the Ukraine conflict.
Additionally, the budgetary increase aligns with Russia's ongoing military objectives, suggesting that any prior statements about cuts were either misinterpreted or not reflective of the government's actual fiscal strategy (Military.com).
Conclusion
The claim that "Putin vows to cut military spending despite ongoing Ukraine invasion" is False. The evidence clearly shows that instead of cutting military spending, Putin has approved a record increase in the military budget for 2025, indicating a commitment to sustaining and enhancing military operations in Ukraine.
