Speaking to Apostrophe on Ukraine's Military Intelligence Day, September 7, 2025, he outlined Moscow’s long-term plan, which will unfold in two phases: first by 2030, and then by 2037.“A large-scale weapons development program is currently being prepared. This is essentially the rearmament of Russia in the period up to 2037. The pace will be rapid until 2030. This is the most ambitious program since the 1980s, even more so than in the last years of the Soviet Union. It is currently estimated at around $1.2 trillion. Purely for rearmament. This is not the budget of the Ministry of Defense, these are funds for the rearmament modernization program. These are serious programs and serious funds,” Budanov emphasized.Adding to his warning, Budanov stressed that the threat will persist even if the Kremlin fails to carry out the program in full.“Let’s put it this way: they can fulfill their plans, not fulfill their plans, not fulfill them completely, fulfill them 60%. When we’re talking about $1.2 trillion, even 50% is a huge amount,” the head of the DIU noted.He emphasized that at present Russia does not pose an immediate military threat to European states, but this could radically change within the next five years. “Closer to 2030, it’ll be a total reality,” Budanov warned.