The decision of dictator Vladimir Putin to address U.S. President Donald Trump directly on the eve of Washington’s introduction of new economic restrictions against Russia and its trading partners demonstrates the Kremlin’s awareness of its own economic weakness. This contradicts Russian officials’ claims of the economy’s “resilience” and “immunity” to sanctions, which are used in domestic propaganda and to attempt to reduce Western pressure.
Source: Bukvy
ISW emphasizes that Moscow resorts to monetary and economic measures to hide problems, but such actions only increase the risk of instability.
Putin may use his planned August 15 meeting with Trump in Alaska to seek concessions on the war in Ukraine under the pretext of arms control talks. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that the country continues to develop short- and medium-range missiles and has a “sufficient arsenal” even after withdrawing from the INF Treaty.
Analysts recall that during Putin’s 2021 summit with Joe Biden, the issue of Ukraine was effectively ignored, with arms control being the main topic. The renewal of, or a new agreement similar to, the INF Treaty is unlikely to change the situation, as Russia had violated the treaty for years and still publicly declares the production of prohibited missiles.
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