MOSCOW: In a surprising announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow is considering plans to reduce its military spending starting next year, even as NATO accelerates efforts to boost its own defense budgets in response to perceived threats from Russia.Speaking during a government meeting outside Moscow, Putin noted that discussions on cutting military expenditure were underway but acknowledged that Russia’s defense and finance ministries had yet to reach an agreement on the specifics.This announcement comes just days after NATO allies agreed on Wednesday to raise their collective defense spending target to 5% of gross domestic product over the next decade. The alliance cited the need to counter what it described as the “long-term threat posed by Russia” and to reinforce both civil and military resilience across member states.Despite his comments on defense cuts, Putin offered no indication of a potential resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine, which shows no signs of ending soon. He also thanked former U.S. President Donald Trump for what he described as “constructive efforts” toward peace, without elaborating on what those efforts entailed.The stark contrast between Russia’s plans to scale back its military budget and NATO’s determination to ramp up defense spending underscores the growing divide in security strategies — and highlights the enduring uncertainty surrounding the conflict in Ukraine.
