Putin’s sleight of hand at Gazprom only postpones Russia’s problems

And they do work: the often criticized sanctions imposed by the West against the aggressor Russia. Vladimir Putin repeatedly claims that the punitive measures will not harm his country. But there are these small but significant pieces of evidence that the Russian President is not too particular about the truth.

The Kremlin now has to dig deep into the pockets of its Gazprom group to close the ever-growing budget gaps. For the first time, the gas giant has to pay out a half-yearly dividend, most of which goes to the majority owner: the state. And it is also higher than any distribution from the group before.

Putin’s comments are window dressing: he pretends that the largest country in the world can easily afford the war in Ukraine. And he already acted as if the sanctions could not harm Russia when Gazprom’s record dividend for 2021 was generously waived at the end of June.