蜜芽传媒

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told his defence chiefs he places no financial limit on military spending and that the government has provided everything the army asked for.

Meanwhile, Russia's defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, has said the total size of the army needs to be increased to one-and-a-half million men.

So what are the implications for the war in Ukraine and beyond?

Dmitry Stefanovich is Research Fellow at the Center for International Security with The Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations in Moscow.

Speaking to Newsday about the decisions that Russia's Defence Ministry is making, he said:

"It is some sort of deterrent message or message to the possible adversaries that the Russian military is capable and will become more capable. On the other hand, it is a message to the Russian people to feel that, well, the country is focused on upgrading the military itself, and at the same time it should not be a great burden on the national economy, which of course is questionable to some extent because everything comes at a price."

(Photo by Sefa Karacan / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Show less