"Undeclared war" forces Russia to boost defense spending

Russia should include defense spending in its budget planning in the circumstances of the current geopolitical conditions and anti-Russion sanctions policies, head of Russian State Duma's Budget and Tax Committee Andrey Makarov told Rossiya 1 TV channel on Friday.

Russia plans to spend 2.9 trillion rubles on defense in 2019, 3 trillion rubles in 2020, and 3.2 trillion rubles in 2021, according to the explanatory note to the draft budget for 2019-2021.

"I think everybody understands that an undeclared war against us is underway. Not to spend money on defense is madness, only a madman can suggest such a thing. Nobody has forgotten the main thing - who does not want to feed his own army, will feed somebody else's army," Makarov said.

The State Duma has earlier approved the draft budget for 2019-2021 in the first reading. The revenue in 2019 is expected at 19.67 trillion rubles, in 2020 - at 20.22 trillion rubles, and in 2021 - at 20.98 trillion rubles. Expendtirues are planned at 18.04 trillion rubles, 18.95 trillion rubles and 20.03 trillion rubles respectively. 0sap.