Putin rejected Trump's deal — Russia's economy is collapsing, and the risk of internal unrest is growing
The Guardian commentator Simon Tisdall emphasizes that Donald Trump's proposed “peace deal” would have given Russia part of Ukraine's territory and effectively destroyed NATO, but Vladimir Putin rejected it, dreaming of complete victory. The author calls this decision a fatal mistake. This was reported by The Public with reference to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, the war and sanctions are hitting Russia harder and harder. Oil and gas revenues have fallen by 27%, inflation exceeds 8%, interest rates have risen to 16%, and the budget deficit is growing. Half of the sovereign wealth fund has been “eaten up” since 2022, imports of strategic goods have risen in price by 122%, taxes for the population are rising — even vodka has become more expensive.
Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries, pipelines, and the “shadow fleet” are creating fuel shortages and panic. Asian buyers are avoiding Russian oil due to the threat of US sanctions, and even China is reducing its purchases.
Moscow's geopolitical influence is waning: Syria and Iran are turning to the West, Venezuela is not receiving aid, and Russia has become the junior partner in its relationship with China. On the front lines, “successes” are minimal: after almost four years of war, Putin has failed to subdue Ukraine, with losses amounting to about a million killed and wounded.
The author asks: how long will Russians tolerate a dictator who sends young people to war and pays “blood bonuses” for 12 days of life on the front line? Experts predict that the economic downturn could provoke conflicts within the elite, as during the Wagner mutiny.
Trump, according to the author, is only prolonging the war by blocking aid to Ukraine and trying to “play the peacemaker.” Europe, he stresses, must strengthen its support for Kyiv, sanctions, and defense. “Russia cannot be broken. But Putin can,” Tisdall concludes.
