The head of the Russian Federation is pleased that the troops managed to capture the “land bridge” connecting Russia to Crimea, said an interlocutor familiar with the Kremlin’s position.
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that the main goals of the invasion of Ukraine have been achieved, but he is concerned about the worsening economic situation and “distortions” in the economy, Reuters reports, citing a source.
In 2024, the Russian army occupied five times more land in Ukraine than the previous year and maintained control over almost 20% of Ukraine’s territory. The head of the Russian Federation is pleased that the troops managed to capture the “land bridge” connecting Russia to Crimea, said an interlocutor familiar with the Kremlin’s position.
According to the source, Putin is aware of the problems caused by the war in the Russian economy – for example, the impact of high interest rates on business and industry not related to the military sector.
In January-November 2024, Russia’s GDP, according to the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, grew by 4%, but in 2025 the economy faces severe stagnation.
As a result, part of the Russian elite, as mentioned by two other interlocutors, now believes that it is desirable to stop the war against Ukraine through negotiations. Putin himself sees “big problems” in the economy, one of the sources said.
Putin’s frustration with economic difficulties was evident in his meeting with business leaders on December 16, Reuters wrote.
At an economic meeting the day before, he said he discussed with business executives the risks of weaker credit activity on long-term growth, referring to the December meeting. At the same time, Putin announced the success of the Russian economy, despite the war and sanctions.
Let’s remember that the aggressor country Russia ended 2024 with a budget deficit that was recorded high in recent years at 3.5 trillion rubles.
Source: korrespondent
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