Putin approves budget with record military spending as EU officials visit Kyiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a new budget on Sunday, featuring record military spending. The budget allocates 32.5 percent, or 13.5 trillion rubles (€119 billion), for national defense, an increase from 28.3 percent in the previous year. This budget approval follows Russian lawmakers' endorsement in late November. The increased defense spending reflects ongoing military actions in Ukraine. On the same day, EU officials visited Kyiv to express support for Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, coinciding with the start of the new European Commission's mandate.