Russia’s Fate Being ‘Decided by the Economy and Not with the Seizure of Some Village in Ukraine,’ Kalashnikov Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Feb. 13 – Maksim Kalashnikov, a Russian commentator who favors an even more aggressive approach to Ukraine than that being conducted by the Kremlin, says that it is a mistake to think that Russia’s fate is being decided on the frontlines in Ukraine. In fact, it “is now being decided by the economy” which is in increasingly disastrous shape.

            The war in Ukraine has exacerbated the economic problems of the country and put it on course to something like 1991 or even 1917, he says, in the course of urging Moscow’s top leadership to recognize this reality and take steps to change it before it is too late (dialog.ua/war/328733_1771012157).

              “What matters,” Kalashnikov says, “is what happens to the budget, production and enterprises rather than whether we’ve captured another Bolshaya Khrenovka. And the situation here is dire” not least because of the West’s imposition of ever more severe sanctions and moves against Russian sales of raw materials abroad.

              But unfortunately, the Z-blogger concludes, what is likely to happen is exactly the reverse of what should: “the Kremlin will drag things out until disaster strikes and only then will it try to negotiate with the West on what will be ever more unfavorable terms.”  Russian elites need to recognize this looming disaster and take action.