Russian government is considering the possibility of nationalizing the property of foreign companies exiting Russia. Vladimir Putin has supported the decision minutes ago.
Confiscation of Russian-owned state and private property in the US and EU will likely follow, but this is not even the worst part of the story.
The decision will put Russia in a rank of lawless outcasts for decades to come, which is by no means good for economy.
The decision looks emotional and makes no sense.
You cannot nationalize business models, skills and competence, management and technologies. Kremlin’s management will simply destroy most of these businesses.
This is bad news for the Russian employees of Western companies who hoped they will return.
Confiscation of Russian-owned state and private property in the US and EU will likely follow, but this is not even the worst part of the story.
The decision will put Russia in a rank of lawless outcasts for decades to come, which is by no means good for economy.
The decision looks emotional and makes no sense.
You cannot nationalize business models, skills and competence, management and technologies. Kremlin’s management will simply destroy most of these businesses.
This is bad news for the Russian employees of Western companies who hoped they will return.
According to the Kremlin insiders of journalist Mikhail Zygar, Vladimir Putin has isolated himself and isn't approachable even for the top-officials.
He allegedly spent almost six months in 2020 in Valdai with one of his closest friends, billionaire Yury Kovalchuk, who is obsessed with conspiracy theories about America and Orthodox mystics.
Russian history is pretty much "the same old story". Nicholas II also had his Rasputin.
We were just saying.
He allegedly spent almost six months in 2020 in Valdai with one of his closest friends, billionaire Yury Kovalchuk, who is obsessed with conspiracy theories about America and Orthodox mystics.
Russian history is pretty much "the same old story". Nicholas II also had his Rasputin.
We were just saying.
Vladimir Putin gave today the green light to bring in thousands of fighters from the Middle East to fight against Ukraine.
At the same time, British PM Johnson warned that British soldiers who go AWOL in order to fight the Russians in Ukraine will be court martialled when they return.
Russian position looks more and more desperate. One mistake after another, as if the country hasn’t been demonized enough.
If 20 years ago somebody told us that Russian president would want bring in Arabs and Iranians to fight against Ukraine, we would’ve laughed hysterically.
At the same time, British PM Johnson warned that British soldiers who go AWOL in order to fight the Russians in Ukraine will be court martialled when they return.
Russian position looks more and more desperate. One mistake after another, as if the country hasn’t been demonized enough.
If 20 years ago somebody told us that Russian president would want bring in Arabs and Iranians to fight against Ukraine, we would’ve laughed hysterically.
Looks like Russian army is facing serious difficulties, if the assistance of Hizballa and Shabeeha is needed.
Institute for the Study of War: A new Russian invasion from western Belarus, with or without Belarusian ground forces’ support, appears increasingly unlikely.
If Lukashenko gets out of this, he would go down in the history as an ultimate opportunist.
If Lukashenko gets out of this, he would go down in the history as an ultimate opportunist.
It’s painful to listen to Mr.Putin. In all seriousness, he is a danger to every Russian.
“USSR always lived under sanctions and was successful”.
Then it collapsed.
“USSR always lived under sanctions and was successful”.
Then it collapsed.
Lukashenko hasn’t come to Moscow empty-handed. He has brought a map with “Ukraine’s plans to attack Belarus” that were disrupted by Russian “preemptive strikes”.
So, according to Russian narrative Ukraine for some reason was going to start a three-front war with:
• Belarus;
• LDNR;
• Russia, consequently.
Also, Ukraine was on the verge of creating nuclear weapons and bio warfare to kill only ethnic Russians (by the way, what about Tatars, Ossetians, Chechens etc).
Very credible story, great job.
So, according to Russian narrative Ukraine for some reason was going to start a three-front war with:
• Belarus;
• LDNR;
• Russia, consequently.
Also, Ukraine was on the verge of creating nuclear weapons and bio warfare to kill only ethnic Russians (by the way, what about Tatars, Ossetians, Chechens etc).
Very credible story, great job.
Our sources in America has confirmed that the Head of the 5th Service of FSB Sergei Beseda will be held responsible for the massive failure of Russian intelligence in Ukraine.
We don’t know for sure whether Beseda is under house arrest, but something is going on in FSB at the highest level.
Beseda was observing the activities of FSB in Ukraine and LDNR. According to our sources, prior to February, 24 he has been regularly visiting LDNR – sometimes several times a week.
Putin was sure that Ukranians would greet Russian army as liberators. That was Russian intelligence.
So, one man has been already appointed guilty – Sergei Beseda.
We are watching the disaster in the making.
We don’t know for sure whether Beseda is under house arrest, but something is going on in FSB at the highest level.
Beseda was observing the activities of FSB in Ukraine and LDNR. According to our sources, prior to February, 24 he has been regularly visiting LDNR – sometimes several times a week.
Putin was sure that Ukranians would greet Russian army as liberators. That was Russian intelligence.
So, one man has been already appointed guilty – Sergei Beseda.
We are watching the disaster in the making.
’’Russia’s president once sat atop a system of political and economic governance and a network of diplomatic, trading and investment relationships that, together, transformed Russia’s influence and his own into a truly global phenomenon.
All of that is now undone“.
That’s the idea many fail to understand. The events we are witnessing will never lead to “sovereign” Russian economy and independence, as Putin claims.
The thing he is doing will ultimately limit political and economic sovereignty of Russia.
All of that is now undone“.
That’s the idea many fail to understand. The events we are witnessing will never lead to “sovereign” Russian economy and independence, as Putin claims.
The thing he is doing will ultimately limit political and economic sovereignty of Russia.
Branko Milanovic from the City University of New York estimates the frozen Russian assets at $600bln which makes their loss “a transfer of wealth of unheard proportions”.
It is equal to the US annual defense budget. Milanovic points out that this is probably the first time ever when one side of the conflict is covering the defense budget of the other side.
Normally reparations are paid after the lost war, but Putin, being the great strategist he is, paid them upfront.
Russia would have to pay more after the war is over, so overall Ukranian war will likely cost Russia more than $1trln.
It is equal to the US annual defense budget. Milanovic points out that this is probably the first time ever when one side of the conflict is covering the defense budget of the other side.
Normally reparations are paid after the lost war, but Putin, being the great strategist he is, paid them upfront.
Russia would have to pay more after the war is over, so overall Ukranian war will likely cost Russia more than $1trln.
The Vox: Sanctions put in place by the US and the West are extremely comprehensive, and working around them to avoid a sustained economic downturn will be effectively impossible.
NY Times confirmed the death of Brent Renaud. He wasn't on the assignment for NY Times in Ukraine.
Australia and the Netherlands have begun legal action against Russia at the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014.
Dutch prosecutors have previously sought life sentences for three Russians Oleg Pulatov, Sergey Dubinsky and Igor Girkin and a Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko for shooting down the flight.
Russia will have to deal with legal procedures somehow, there will be a lot.
Dutch prosecutors have previously sought life sentences for three Russians Oleg Pulatov, Sergey Dubinsky and Igor Girkin and a Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko for shooting down the flight.
Russia will have to deal with legal procedures somehow, there will be a lot.
If the US and China reach any kind of agreement over their future cooperation, Russia’s actions in Ukraine will be 100% fruitless.
We think they will, based mainly on economic assumptions.
The place of Russia in the future world will be more or less determined by a deal between Washington and Beijing.
We think they will, based mainly on economic assumptions.
The place of Russia in the future world will be more or less determined by a deal between Washington and Beijing.
Amidst the swift American withdrawal from Afghanistan we have been repeating that, as ugly as it looked, this was a totally right call from Biden.
We assume that it’s clear what were American rush and hurry all about.
The actions of the US in Europe would’ve been much more limited now if it was still stuck in Afghanistan, where China could create a lot of trouble now via its proxies.
Great call. Probably at the expense of Democratic loss in 2024, but that’s what national interest is sometimes all about.
We assume that it’s clear what were American rush and hurry all about.
The actions of the US in Europe would’ve been much more limited now if it was still stuck in Afghanistan, where China could create a lot of trouble now via its proxies.
Great call. Probably at the expense of Democratic loss in 2024, but that’s what national interest is sometimes all about.
Western sanctions against Russian elites have sent shock waves around the former Soviet republics.
For example, Kremlin’s partners in Kazakhstan have been silent since the very beginning of action in Ukraine and haven’t offered Moscow any public support.
Good for them and their billions in Europe and America.
For example, Kremlin’s partners in Kazakhstan have been silent since the very beginning of action in Ukraine and haven’t offered Moscow any public support.
Good for them and their billions in Europe and America.
Financial Times came up with a good piece about Putin’s elites written by Anatole Lieven. Western public usually focuses on billionaires as a source of power in Russia which is a grave mistake.
Oligarchs altogether do not exercise any kind of political power in Russia.
The deal “you do not mess with politics, we let you enjoy your life” between Putin and the oligarchs had been made long time ago.
Siloviks, or people from the state repressive apparatus, were real decision-makers in Russia until recent days. Now their role has also been reduced.
We have written about “Oldmen from Sovbez” about a year ago.
Oligarchs altogether do not exercise any kind of political power in Russia.
The deal “you do not mess with politics, we let you enjoy your life” between Putin and the oligarchs had been made long time ago.
Siloviks, or people from the state repressive apparatus, were real decision-makers in Russia until recent days. Now their role has also been reduced.
We have written about “Oldmen from Sovbez” about a year ago.
Israel Foreign Minister Yair Lapid: "Israel will not be a route to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other Western countries".
British authorities are getting ready to suck Roman Abramovich dry, Israel won’t interfere.
British authorities are getting ready to suck Roman Abramovich dry, Israel won’t interfere.