Due to international sanctions, Russia has lost approximately $450 billion in revenues from the energy sector, and two-thirds of the liquid assets of the National Welfare Fund have already been spent. This was stated by the UK’s Senior Military Adviser to the OSCE, Lieutenant Colonel Joby Rimmer, at a meeting of the Forum for Security Cooperation in Vienna, Ukrinform reports.
“Russia continues to escalate the conflict, which has increasingly serious economic consequences for its population,” said Rimmer.
He named the main signs of economic instability in Russia:
- increase in the key policy rate to 21%;
- allocating 40% of the Russian budget in 2025 to defence;
- For the first time since the Soviet era, defence spending exceeded social spending;
- use of two-thirds of the NWF reserves;
- loss of USD 450 billion in energy revenues due to sanctions.
The Kremlin chooses war over the welfare of citizens
“The Kremlin deliberately puts war above the welfare of its own people. This policy is leading to the impoverishment of Russia,” the British representative stressed.
He also stressed the lack of sincere intentions for peace on the part of Moscow. According to Rimmer, Vladimir Putin’s statements about peace are hypocritical, because in practice Russia continues to carry out massive air strikes against Ukraine.
Support for Ukraine remains unchanged
The British advisor reaffirmed the UK’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine:
“We will support Ukraine militarily, economically and diplomatically until peace is achieved and its sovereignty is guaranteed.”
