{"id":67258,"date":"2023-12-07T10:20:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T10:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2023\/12\/07\/russia-is-gearing-up-for-a-long-war-will-the-west-follow-suit\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:51:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:51:59","slug":"russia-is-gearing-up-for-a-long-war-will-the-west-follow-suit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/outlook\/2023\/12\/07\/russia-is-gearing-up-for-a-long-war-will-the-west-follow-suit\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia is gearing up for a long war. Will the West follow suit?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Russian President Vladimir Putin may have expected a quick victory when launching his invasion of Ukraine<\/a>, now almost two years ago. But with as many as 300,000 Russian troops<\/a> killed or wounded and thousands<\/a> of Russian weapons expended on the battlefield, Russia is now gearing up for a long war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Russian government proposed a new budget that shows the Kremlin is mobilizing its economy for a long war of attrition. Defense spending in the new budget will account for 29.4%, or nearly one-third<\/a>, of Russia\u2019s total budget expenditure in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe budget\u2019s structure shows that the main emphasis is on ensuring our victory \u2014 the Army, defense capability, armed forces, fighters. Everything needed for the front, everything needed for victory, is in the budget,\u201d explained Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there are questions not only about whether the Kremlin can find the cash to fund such spending but also whether Russia\u2019s defense-industrial base will be able to deliver.<\/p>\n\n\n\t