On January 29, 2025, during a briefing in Croatia, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized the need for more military aid as Russia increases its defense budget by 25% this year. He stated that Ukraine requires additional weapons and support to effectively counter Russian aggression, which he described as understanding only the language of strength.
Shmyhal highlighted the importance of unity in promoting peace through strength, asserting that Russia's increased military spending serves as evidence of its unwillingness to retreat. He also called for enhanced sanctions against Russia to weaken its aggressive stance.
During the meeting, Shmyhal expressed gratitude to Croatia for its technical and military assistance, including a forthcoming twelfth security aid package, which is expected to be approved on January 30. Additionally, he mentioned collaboration with Croatia in demining efforts, with 67 Croatian demining machines already delivered to Ukraine.
The discussion also covered enhancing energy security for both Ukraine and Europe, particularly through the utilization of Ukraine's gas storage facilities, which hold 31 billion cubic meters, making them the largest on the continent. This capacity could serve as a significant gas reserve for Europe, allowing Croatia to store its gas resources and those of its partners received via the LNG terminal on Krk Island.
Furthermore, the Russian defense budget for 2025 allocates approximately 8% of GDP, with a total of 13.5 trillion rubles designated for defense and an additional 3.4 trillion for national security and law enforcement. This marks a record high in modern Russian history, surpassing 40% of all budget expenditures. In subsequent years, defense spending is expected to decrease slightly, while social policy expenditures will be reduced in 2025, with military spending exceeding allocations for social policies, healthcare, education, and the economy combined.