Russia's Military Buildup and Resource Acquisition Amid Tensions with Ukraine and NATO

As Russia's military spending increases, the country is eyeing Ukraine's mineral resources to fund its ongoing aggression. The Russian budget allocates funds for rebuilding annexed Ukrainian regions and investing in the occupied area's mining industry. Russia has effectively controlled more than 20% of Ukraine's known deposits since 2014, denying Ukraine billions of dollars in revenue. By exploiting Ukraine's natural resources, including coal, metals, and oil, Russia aims to boost its own coffers and fund its war effort. To curb Russia's ability to wage war, experts suggest stronger enforcement of sanctions on Russia's export of natural resources and wider adoption of sanctions by other countries.