Russia’s shaky game
Five charts to start your day
Don’t be fooled by the swagger. Despite what President Putin wants the world to think, Russia’s economy is in trouble – and that matters for everyone watching the war in Ukraine. All those threats of nuclear escalation or endless resources? Much of it is simply bravado that only works if the West believes it. Right now, a new plan for peace talks is on the horizon in Washington, but there’s a twist: President Trump can afford to play hardball, because time may not be on Putin’s side.
You see, Russia’s once seemingly indestructible economy is starting to show cracks. Sure, it survived sanctions better than many expected, thanks to some creative workarounds and a flood of government cash into the war effort. But mounting debt is creating a nasty credit storm – one the Kremlin might struggle to ride out.
