OREANDA-NEWS  The change of the Russian Defense Minister is an important and interesting step. Thus, the proposal of Russian President Vladimir Putin to appoint Andrei Belousov as head of the Russian Defense Ministry instead of Sergei Shoigu was evaluated by former Pentagon chief Mark Esper, CNN reports.

"The most important argument coming from Moscow now is that Russia is moving towards a military economy," he said.

Earlier, The Washington Post explained Putin's proposal for Belousov's candidacy. The Russian president needs him to strictly control the increased military spending, the journalists said.

The Russian leader proposed appointing former Deputy Prime Minister Belousov as the country's defense minister instead of Sergei Shoigu, who led the defense department for 12 years.