Medvedev will not reduce military expenses

Russia's spending on defense will always be high, President Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting with military commanders who took part in the Center-2011 drills, RIA Novosti reports.

The president dismissed on Monday Russian Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin, who had said in the USA that he had no desire to serve in a Medvedev government over differences of opinion, especially on military spending.

Russia cannot reduce expenses because it is a large state, member of the UN Security Council and has nuclear arms, Medvedev said.