Despite three and a half years of international sanctions due to the Ukrainian war, the shelves of Russian grocery stores remain full, and there is little evidence that people do without the creature’s amenities.
However, with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s willingness to their pen in Alaska on Friday, the turning point may have finally reached the Russian people, and left physically and economically from the West.
Moscow’s tunnels associated with heavy warfare led to high salaries and increased consumer spending. Alexander Collener says it has also caused inflation, and is now in economic growth. A great researcher at the European Policy Analysis Center in London.
The situation is reflected in the positions of many people with CBC News. The Russian authorities have prevented CBC from direct reporting in the country. Instead, an independent journalist in Moscow seemed to people about their feelings about war, its impact on their daily lives and the potential of the Trump Putin summit in Alaska.
“Prices are constantly rising, especially food and facilities,” said Anton, 40, who lives with his wife and young daughter in Coroliov, the city of Moscow passenger.
“Children’s clothes are now sold like shirts that were very cheap at crazy prices in stores, with the same quality (bad).”
He publicly talks about Ukraine that can lead to visits from the Russian police, so CBC News blocks the titles of the people who were interviewed.
“You cannot do that forever”
Throughout the year, inflation is now about nine percent. Food enlargement is higher.
“We see the slowdown of the economy everywhere,” said Collener, who even invaded Russia was an analyst with Credite Swisse in Moscow.
Russian statistics He said that the spending of consumers increased steadily throughout 2024, but it declined sharply in 2025, a possible indication of the stagnant economy.
Friday between the two leaders is a decisive point in diplomacy to end the fighting in the battlefield, just as it seems that the Russian economy began to decline.
“It costs more food; manufactured goods as well,” said Alexei, a 66 -year -old retired and part -time as a security guard in a grocery store in the capital of Russia.
However, many people told CBC News that their lifestyles remained the same – at the present time.
“We still buy what we need, but when something becomes very expensive, we make options, such as skipping a coat or jacket,” said Alexei.
“You feel this (the prices increase),” said Irina, a 31 -year -old TV producer. “But not to the point where I completely stopped buying things myself.”
Military spending, bonuses signing
Since Russian tanks crossed to Ukraine in 2022, there were predictions that Putin’s invasion would have unlimited consumers and companies, which may lead to the economic collapse of a country of 146 million people. But with the passage of time, these expectations took “a boy who cried the wolf” for them.
Instead, the government’s spending on the Russian army has so far fueled an economic boom that has already made many Russians richer than they were before the war. In the latest Russian budgetThe expenses on the army and security accounted for 19 percent of all government spending.
“The Russian government was very good in enhancing economic growth for two years while sweeping all problems under the carpet or leaving it for the future,” said Collender.
However, he adds, “It is similar to running on amphetamines – You can’t do it forever. “
However, even with high prices – war losses were placed – the Kremlin has put very effective measures to isolate themselves against any kind of popular reaction.
Among them is the profitable signature and death bonuses of Russian soldiers and their families.
Noufaya Gazzeta reports If the soldiers can survive in their first year, they can earn up to seven million rubles, or nearly $ 100,000 of CDN, including signing rewards and salaries.
Collener says, in a country where “life changes” from money for the families of the soldiers. Typical profits are 18,000 Canadian dollars annually.
The profitable payments – along with persecution persecutions – help explain the silent general opposition of the war, despite the huge battlefield losses.
British Defense Ministry estimates More than a million Russians have been killed or wounded since February 2022, while the total losses of Ukraine may exceed 400,000.
Kremlin novels
Among the Miskovs who talked about the war to our independent producer CBC, many of them were postponed to the Kremlin’s novels, which Western countries as the aggressor and Russia have been fighting as a defensive war of survival.
“I don’t think freezing the conflict is really good, because if they froze it, the (Ukrainian) missiles will continue to hit our lands,” said Alexei, a 66 -year -old retired, said.
Others have expressed low expectations that Putin and Trump will agree to a ceasefire anytime soon.
“If they stop shooting and agree to freeze, this is really good – people will stop death,” said Anton from Coroliov. “But the economy may not improve. Even if they stop the forces, the sanctions are likely to remain.”
Russia has approved laws that impose prison terms to publish what it considers false news about the Ukraine war on social media platforms.
However, on VK, one of the largest social media platforms in Russia, some comments were noticeable For them Negative towards war.
“Putin does not need peace. It is obsessed with control, and the war in Ukraine is one of its wheels. It is completely indifferent to the losses,” One user named Dmitry said, He was sent by another user because of his clear criticism of the Russian leader.
In another exchange, one of the users named Masha said: “If Putin agrees to NATO conditions, this is a loss,” another user suggested that the “private military operation” – as the Kremlin calls its Ukrainian invasion – “it was a loss from the beginning.”
Trump tactics
Ceyander, CEPA economist, says he believes that there is unlikely to be any economic crane that Trump can withdraw to eventually compel Russia to change its strategy in the battlefield or retreat against Ukraine.
Russian forces are currently controlling nearly 20 percent of the country, including the Crimea, which is officially included in Russia.
Earlier in August, Trump imposed a 25 percent penalty on India, as well as a 25 percent tariff for the purchase of oil and weapons from Russia. However, Trump did not target the largest energy agent in Russia, China.
If he does, Collener says he believes it will be very difficult for the Russian economy to survive.
Trump said that if (secondary) sanctions are imposed, the price of Russian oil will decrease by $ 10 (we). This, in his opinion, hinders the Russian economy. If my account is correct, this would deprive Russia of three quarters of the gross domestic product per year, which is much. ”
Recently, the Russians have been far from the borders of Ukraine, increasingly feeling the influence of the war in other ways.
Ukrainian drones are now flying over the main Russian airports in cities like Moscow almost daily, causing flying and delay. Others were hitting the energy infrastructure, especially oil refineries.
Ukraine also represents attacking the infrastructure of mobile phones and the Internet in Russia, and often leads to widespread disturbances.
“All of this flows and disjoins people,” says Collener. “But not to the extent that they are ready to exchange what they see as a victorious and existential war with the West for some amenities at home – at least not yet.”
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