Putin approves record military budget as EU officials 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). This allocation is 32.5% of the total budget, up from 28.3% this year. The increase comes as Russia continues its military efforts in Ukraine, where recent months have seen Russian forces gaining ground. Meanwhile, Kyiv receives substantial support from Western allies amid ongoing conflict. In related developments, EU officials visited Kyiv to reaffirm support for Ukraine. The visit coincided with recent attacks in Ukraine, including a drone strike in Kherson that killed three people and a missile strike in Dnipro that left four dead and 24 injured.