Putin approves record military budget as EU leaders visit Kyiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a budget plan that raises military spending for 2025 to a record 13.5 trillion rubles (over $145 billion), up from 28.3% to 32.5% of the total budget. This decision comes as European Council President Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visit Kyiv, reaffirming EU support for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict. In recent violence, three people died in Kherson from a Russian drone strike, and 24 were injured in a missile attack in Dnipro. Ukraine reported the destruction of 32 out of 78 Russian drones launched overnight.