Russia's Finance Minister Demanded 2026 Budget Cuts Everywhere Except the Military

Russia's Finance Minister Anton Siluanov asked the government in February to freeze 2026 spending across all budget lines, except for military expenses. This was reported by the Financial Times. The move indicates growing financial pressure that the war in Ukraine is placing on Russia's state budget.

Russia's Finance Minister Anton Siluanov requested cuts in February from the government for the 2026 budget in practically all spending lines, with only military expenses as an exception. This was reported by the British business newspaper Financial Times.

This move reflects the pressure building on Russia's state finances, which has increased due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Defense spending has surged in recent years and already constitutes a significant portion of the state budget, leaving increasingly less room for other sectors.

The freeze proposals would potentially affect a wide range of sectors, including social services, infrastructure, and other civilian spending. Economic analysts have previously warned that a prolonged war economy will exhaust Russia's budget and force the country to make painful choices in other spending areas.

The Finance Ministry's proposal indicates that Russia is attempting to limit post-war spending while continuing to fund the armed forces at full capacity. This is a significant indicator of Russia's budget policy priorities in the current situation.