What does Russia's rising military budget say about its plans for the war?

The Russian government began the month by submitting a three-year budget plan to parliament, proposing yet another increase in funding for its war against Ukraine.

On the surface, the planned increase looks substantial. Russia's overall military budget is set to rise to around 17 trillion rubles (approximately $200 billion) in 2027, up from 12 trillion rubles in 2026 — a 27% increase in nominal spending.

Rather than pointing to a sudden surge in military spending, the latest budget figures suggest that Russia is continuing to gradually build up and sustain its military capacity, signaling a readiness for a prolonged war.

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