Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin to inject £150bn into war effort as Germany identifies Kyiv’s ‘weakest point’
Russia plans to raise its defence spending to more than £150bn next year to bolster its war on Ukraine, according to a draft budget due to be submitted to parliament tomorrow.
Total defence spending will amount to £450bn (50 trillion roubles) in the next three years, reported Reuters, as Putin doubles down on his now four-and-a-half year war with Russia’s European neighbour.
It comes as Germany identified Ukraine’s air defence shortage as its “weakest point” heading into the winter. German chancellor Friedrich Merz made the remark during a briefing in Berlin, where he said he was speaking personally with several allies to try and secure more supplies.
Sharing his concerns about securing Kyiv, he said: “If Ukraine falls, peace and freedom throughout Europe will be under threat.”
Meanwhile, Russian air strikes killed three, including a child, and injured another seven people in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and the surrounding region early on Wednesday, officials said.
Poland’s Air Traffic Authority said on Wednesday that airports in Rzeszow and Lublin temporarily suspended air operations due to military aviation activity during Russian strikes on Ukraine.
