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Introduction – Nov 24, 2023

At the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine the western media was full of grim predictions about how Russia would fare economically under Western sanctions.

The Guardian, for example, warned that Russia’s economy could contract by as much as 7% under sanctions imposed by the west.

According to the Guardian:

Economists said measures imposed on Russian banks and companies by the US, EU, UK and their allies were having a severe impact on financial markets in Moscow and would inflict more damage on Russia’s wider economy over time. — Russian economy could shrink by 7% as result of Ukraine sanctions

As it turned out Russia’s economy proved remarkably resilient. Not only did the economy survive, it actually thrived under Western sanctions.

Indeed, Russia has just overtaken Germany to become the fifth wealthiest economy in the world and the largest in Europe, worth $5.3 trillion.

That certainly wasn’t the case when I first went to Russia over 20 years ago. Then, President Putin was still trying to consolidate his position in the face of opposition from western-backed oligarch’s who wanted to install another Yeltsin-like puppet.

Then, with a few exceptions for the ultra-rich oligarchs, Moscow’s shops were poorly stocked and signs of want and economic decline were visible everywhere. However, under Putin there has been a remarkable turn-around, economically, socially and politically.

That transformation became increasingly evident on each of my subsequent return visits to Russia. To the extent that I now can see why various mystics predicted that Russia would become the dominant power on the planet in the 21st century and beyond.

Although the western media is playing down its significance, Russia is on the verge of a decisive victory in Ukraine. From here on I think we can expect to see an increasingly assured Russia make its mark on world affairs.

I don’t profess to be a prophet or clairvoyant but based on writings of various Christian visionaries and teachers I’m confident that Russia will become the dominant global power in the 21st and early 22nd century. Much as Britain was in the 19th and early 20th century.

As to what happens to America? Well, according to the various and authentic Christian visionaries that I’m aware of that’s another story, but right now Russia is emerging as a global power that will rival Rome or the British Empire at its peak. Ed.

Russian economic growth shows Western sanctions ineffective, says fund manager Amundi’s CIO

By Mathieu Rosemain – Reuters Nov 23, 2023

Europe’s largest fund manager Amundi expects the Russian economy to grow three times faster than the euro zone’s in 2024, its chief investment officer said on Thursday, stressing the ineffectiveness of sanctions levied over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Amundi expects Russia’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 1.5% in 2024 and by 2% in 2025, compared with 0.5% and 1.2% for the euro zone.

“It means that the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia — the major developed countries — are unable to sanction a country effectively,” Amundi’s CIO Vincent Mortier told reporters at a news conference in Paris on the fund manager’s 2024 outlook.

“That’s what it means. We can deplore it, but it’s a reality.”

The impact of the sanctions was visible in terms of asset-freezing for a certain number of people, Mortier said, but not so much on Russia’s imports and exports.

Major emerging economies under the BRICS umbrella (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) as well as countries like Turkey and Kazakhstan benefited from the sanctions as Russia managed to move its exports away from Western countries, Mortier said.

“It’s a reality check. In the end, if we take stock of the war in Ukraine: Europe has suffered directly and strongly; for the United States (the impact is) neutral; but Turkey, Central Asia and Asia more generally have benefited,” he said.

 

(Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain; Editing by Toby Chopra)

 

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