Quote:The sanctions coincided with the dramatic decline of the oil price. Hereby, it is not clear to which extent that was deliberately caused in order to augment Russia’s economic woes. Taken together the sanctions and the collapse of the oil price created a scenario which should have broken Russia’s economy. According to the narrative of the pundits, the Russian economy was set to perish under such conditions.

Considering this backdrop, the major strategic goals of Russia’s geopolitical competitors and the intended effects, this is not the time to speak about anemic nonsense. We think the occasion is rather more suitable for declaring victory. Apart for some belt-tightening on the part of the consumers nothing was achieved, there was no major dent in Russia’s economic armor. Not only was nothing achieved, but rather Russia proved right Nietzsche’s maxim: That which does not kill us makes us stronger. Yes, Russia has emerged stronger than ever after these three years of economic defense. It has now achieved the unprecedented role of a quadruple superpower: industrial superpower, agricultural superpower, military superpower and geopolitical superpower. Russia now has the world’s most self-sufficient and diversified economy capable of producing anything possibly made in the world. Russia is now for the first time in its history food self-sufficient while simultaneously exporting more food than ever.”