"It's inevitable, the Russian economy will implode"
The United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom have imposed more than 15,000 restrictions and sanctions on Russia, its leaders, its oligarchs, society, the economy itself and, of course, Putin.
These measures were aimed at decimating the institutions and sectors of the Russian economy, as well as preventing the Kremlin from financing a long-term war.
However, Russia has managed to survive economically, for now. According to the International Monetary Fund, the Russian economy grew faster than the entire G7 last year and will do so in 2024. The IMF has therefore highlighted Moscow's economic strength.
Among other ways of obtaining supplies, Moscow has chosen to move closer to China and India, which has allowed it to escape the economic attacks of Western countries. But economists believe that this is only "short term".
For British economist Roger Bootle in an interview for the Telegraph, the war economy will explode. Last year, the inflation rate in Russia averaged 5.9%. It is expected to reach 7.5% this year.
(MH with AmBar/Source: The Telegraph/Photo: Anna Kasputina/Pexels)