RUSSIA’s parliament approved a budget today with a record amount for defence spending as the West scrambled to keep the conflict between Russia and Ukraine a priority. 

The new Russian federal budget will provide for an additional 25 per cent more in spending in 2024-2026.

Under the budget, defence expenditure is expected to overtake social spending next year for the first time in modern Russian history as the country experiences record low unemployment and higher wages.

The budget now goes to President Vladimir Putin for signature.

This comes as the West scrambled this week to keep the war in Ukraine in the public mind as the conflict in Gaza has diverted the attention of the world.

On a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Tuesday, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius vowed to keep supporting Ukraine’s efforts to win its war against Russia, pledging further military aid worth €1.3 billion (£1.1bn).

German news agency DPA reported that the new support would include further Iris-T SLM anti-aircraft missile systems as well as anti-tank mines and artillery shells.

At a joint news conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, Mr Pistorius said: “We are talking about 20,000 additional shells.”

The fresh support from the Germans was welcomed by the Ukrainians. Andriy Yermak, the head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office said it was “a great aid package.”

The trip to Kiev by Mr Pistorius came a day after United States Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin turned up in Ukraine pledging an additional $100 million (£80m) in weapons from US stockpiles.

On Tuesday, European Council president Charles Michel also made an unannounced visit to Kiev while European Commission president Ursula von der Leyensent a video message saluting Ukraine’s desire to join the 27-nation European Union. 

“The future of Ukraine is in the EU,” she said.

The much-hyped Ukrainian counter offensive against the Russian has largely failed and military stocks are rapidly dwindling.

Just last week, the EU acknowledged that they are failing to fulfil their promise to provide one million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine’s front line by the spring of 2024.

In comparison, Russia is managing to produce 200 tanks and two million units of ammunition a year.