The kremlin Has Sharply Moderated Words Regarding Military Spending

Lately, russia has been actively promoting a new narrative about reducing defense spending. During his visit to Kyrgyzstan, minister of foreign affairs of the rf Lavrov emphasized that “peace-loving” russia, unlike NATO, plans to cut defense spending. A day earlier, this message was voiced by putin.

The kremlin’s sharp change in economic rhetoric followed the statements by minister of economic development of the rf Reshetnikov and governer of the Central Bank Nabiullina that the country is “on the verge of a recession” and that social spending will be cut by 13 %.

The aggressor’s military spending this year is over $140 billion, which exceeds the national allocations for education, healthcare and social policy.

Sanctions pressure has reduced revenues from the sale of russian oil and gas by 33 % compared to the same period last year. The russian employers’ wage arrears are growing catastrophically: in January, they amounted to almost USD 4.8 million, and as of June 1, they exceeded USD 21 million. This year, the rf is increasing utility tariffs by almost 13 %, and starting next May this figure will be 20 % (+7 %).

Thus, moscow is trying to use another propaganda trick to mitigate the consequences of the upcoming economic collapse.