Putin to press on with war despite economic woes, Lithuania warns

The Kremlin is ready to use repression and propaganda to respond to any signs of social or political instability. Read more at straitstimes.com.

VILNIUS – Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to keep spending on strengthening Russia’s military despite a weakening economy, according to a Lithuanian intelligence assessment.

The country’s growing economic difficulties aren’t enough to force Mr Putin to end the war in Ukraine, where he’s likely still seeking a breakthrough on the battlefield, the Lithuanian National Threat Assessment report said.  

This determination remains a major source of concern to its neighbours as Moscow continues to add new military units on NATO’s borders even with the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, it said.

The intelligence assesses that Mr Putin’s war goals remain unchanged despite the military and economic damage from the war and the Kremlin is ready to use repression and propaganda to respond to any signs of social or political instability.

Low unemployment, rapid wage growth and high demand for labour in the defence sector “have so far directly cushioned the effect of the economic slowdown on society,” the report said. “It is unlikely that deteriorating living standards will pose a risk to the Kremlin’s political stability.”

The report offers sobering assessment of how much Mr Putin is ready to stretch his resources to achieve the military goals and contrasts with views from some western experts that economic cracks that are starting to emerge may force the Kremlin to negotiate.