DISINFO: Sanctions made the Russian economy stronger
SUMMARY
Atlanticists say that sanctions hurt Russia because it [would need to] import goods and services of quality. But the opposite happened, sanctions allowed Russia to rebuild its economy, to stimulate its industry and agriculture to produce importation alternatives that are now available and exported in new markets. Russia is much stronger in fields where products were imported before. Russia collaborates with markets that are much more dynamic than the European market.
Sanctions were a strength rather than a weakness for Russia, many specialists recognise this. If we compare Russia's economic performance with those of most of the major European Union countries, Russia is far ahead.
RESPONSE
Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the international sanctions imposed on Russia following its aggression of Ukraine.
Russian interest rate are more than 20% since 2024, which makes very difficult for the industrial companies trying to export on global markets, where competitors like China that have rates less than 3.5%. Before the sanctions were imposed on Russia and the so called counter sanctions were established, Russia used protectionist measures, like in the pork dispute won at the WTO by the EU. Those protectionist measures made the Russian economy less efficient. No example of product or service that would have been boosted by sanctions is provided. The automotive industry for example has indeed found alternatives with the Chinese imports, but the added value localised in Russia dramatically decreased.
During the June 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian economic leaders recognided the difficult situation of the Russian economy. “We are on the brink of a recession,” admitted Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov. The reserves that had supported the country’s finances in recent years, added Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, “are depleted.”
The Centre for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting (TsMAKP) stated that the “The country is in a state of stagflation: economic dynamics are declining rapidly, and there is a risk of a technical recession in the second and third quarters, but inflation remains high.” Moreover, it stated that since the spring the non-military sectors have been in technical recession.
Read also related stories such as: Russia proves the great strength of its economy, or French scientist established that sanctions made the Russian economy stronger, or Russia has only grown stronger in the last few years, or Putin has shown Russia’s economic supremacy to the world, or Russia became the World's 4th economic power thanks to the war in Ukraine, or Russian economy thrives despite EU sanctions