Russia is set to hike defence spending by almost 70 percent in 2024, a finance ministry document published Thursday showed, as Moscow pours resources into its full-scale offensive in Ukraine.
In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state owned agency Sputnik, President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with Russia’s Government members via video in Moscow, on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Mikhail METZEL / POOL / AFP) / EDITOR’S NOTE : THIS IMAGE IS DISTRIBUTED BY RUSSIAN STATE OWNED AGENCY SPUTNIK – Editor’s note : this image is distributed by Russian state owned agency Sputnik