Putin announced that Russia plans to cut military spending starting in 2026, in stark contrast to NATO's plans to increase defense spending over the next 10 years. However, he also said that cutting defense spending depends on whether Russia can win the Russian-Ukrainian war. Putin also responded to NATO's announcement for the first time on the same day. He said that NATO's defense spending “will be used to purchase US weapons and support its military industrial complex”. This is a matter for NATO and has nothing to do with Russia.

Putin announced that Russia plans to cut military spending starting in 2026, in stark contrast to NATO's plans to increase defense spending over the next 10 years. However, he also said that cutting defense spending depends on whether Russia can win the Russian-Ukrainian war. Putin also responded to NATO's announcement for the first time on the same day. He said that NATO's defense spending “will be used to purchase US weapons and support its military industrial complex”. This is a matter for NATO and has nothing to do with Russia.