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On the Russian economy, it's clearly overheating as labour shortages, directly caused by the invasion of Ukraine, bite. Russia may have found other buyers for their fossil fuels, but the sanctions imposed by the West are having a real impact on their economy, especially on the elite that prop Putin's regime up.
As I posted above, their economy is growing - faster than most western economies - and the sanctions are clearly not having an impact on it.
Apparently one consequence of the sanctions was that it forced the oligarchs who had taken their wealth abroad to bring it back and invest in Russia - which is exactly what putin had wanted but previously been unable to do.
frank9755-
The Russians cannot replace the equipment they are losing in Ukraine, any illusion of a growing economy is propaganda. They are reliant on China, Iran and now North Korea for military supplies, mainly through buying back weaponry and ordinance that they previously sold them because they cannot produce what they need.
They have money, through selling fossil fuels, but they don't have access to enough raw materials, technology or labour to sustain a war effort in the long term. All their actions in Ukraine have involved throwing vast amounts of men and resources at it, because they know they cannot afford for this invasion to drag on indefinitely.
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As I posted above, their economy is growing - faster than most western economies - and the sanctions are clearly not having an impact on it.
Apparently one consequence of the sanctions was that it forced the oligarchs who had taken their wealth abroad to bring it back and invest in Russia - which is exactly what putin had wanted but previously been unable to do.
Everything I read suggests that Russia is throwing everything into the military. So they have immediate GDP growth given its a fire sale to china, etc. and using the funds to maximise tanks and bombs. Its not sustainable as theres zero investment in actual infrastructure.
Both Germany and the UK had higher GDPs in 1944 than they had in 1938 - GDP growth is not sufficient to tell you whether a country is good, sustainable, etc.
Interested in where or whether you're getting the impression that they're investing internally in their people, factories, infrastructure rather than spending the money stuff to blow up.
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Apparently one consequence of the sanctions was that it forced the oligarchs who had taken their wealth abroad to bring it back and invest in Russia - which is exactly what putin had wanted but previously been unable to do.
Apparently UAE property market booming
Especially given Russia is relatively prosperous and Ukraine is a wreck.
andyp
cookiemonster
Ricochet
To address your points in turn:
When did the US last invade a country that it wanted to subsume? The same can be asked for the UK. Putin is looking to expand Russia to include some of the previous USSR-era countries. If he succeeds in Ukraine, what will stop him looking at Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and beyond?
My view is that we should let the population of the Ukraine decide if they want to remain a sovereign nation, or return to being part of Russia. I think the answer to that question would be clear cut: since the fall of the Iron Curtain, many of the former 'satellite' states have voted to move out of the control of Moscow.
On the Russian economy, it's clearly overheating as labour shortages, directly caused by the invasion of Ukraine, bite. Russia may have found other buyers for their fossil fuels, but the sanctions imposed by the West are having a real impact on their economy, especially on the elite that prop Putin's regime up.