"The Kremlin seeks sanctions relief": the Russian economy is more fragile than ever

Dominant on the front lines in Ukraine , is Russia faltering economically? This Friday, August 15 , Donald Trump welcomes Vladimir Putin to the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Alaska, their first meeting since 2019. Officially, the American president wants to "listen" to his Russian counterpart and assess the chances of a ceasefire.

Absent from the negotiating table, Kiev and the Europeans still intend to increase the pressure on Moscow. While Brussels welcomes the White House's diplomatic efforts, the Twenty-Seven are preparing a 19th package of sanctions against Moscow, a sign that Trump's outstretched hand is not slowing down the desire to hit the Kremlin's finances, especially in a context where the Russian economy is showing signs of great fragility. "Since Russia has not accepted a complete and unconditional ceasefire, we should not even be discussing concessions," Kaja Kallas, head of diplomacy, insisted at the beginning of August...