The Russian people will not be frightened by economic difficulties — Stubb

The Russian people will not be frightened by economic difficulties. This was stated by Finnish President Alexander Stubb in an interview with the German edition of Bild.

According to him, the Russian people are able to withstand serious economic difficulties, and therefore do not underestimate their patience and endurance.

Stubb acknowledged that the Russian economy is facing serious problems — high inflation and key interest rates, as well as the risks of stagnation or even recession. However, according to him, these factors are not decisive.

The Finnish President stressed that Western partners should not make the mistake of underestimating the ability of Russian society to endure hardships. He noted that history has repeatedly demonstrated this trait.

Stubb emphasized that the West should not count on the fact that economic pressure alone will lead to a rapid change in Moscow's political course. He warned that the expectation of the imminent collapse of the Russian economy due to sanctions may turn out to be erroneous.