Vladimir Putin has signed off increasing Russia's military spending by 25% - to 32.5% of the total budget - the equivalent of £99.5bn. Meanwhile the new EU Council president Antonio Costa and high representative for foreign affairs Kaja Kallas are visiting Ukraine on their first day.

The government has acknowledged that the needs of what Moscow calls its special military operation in Ukraine and support for the military will remain the budget priority along wi

Spending on war and law enforcement agencies exceeds expenditures on education, healthcare, social policy, and the national economy combined.