Russia may soon struggle to pay soldiers, says economist

This was stated on Espreso TV by economist Ivan Us, chief consultant at the Centre for Foreign Policy Studies of the National Institute for Strategic Studies.

"First of all, there are still accumulated reserves. Yes, they are small, but they still exist. Secondly, the Russian economy is functioning. Sanctions were imposed by Western countries, but not by the Global South. And they represent a significant portion of the global economy," he said.

Us noted that the G7 currently accounts for 40% of the global economy.

"Russia's normal relations with countries of the Global South allow it to keep functioning. But even though there’s still money to keep the war going somehow, we are now seeing cuts. It's no secret that contract payments in Russia are being reduced. These are the first warning signs that big problems are coming soon," the economist concluded.

• Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, says Russia’s main strategy is to prepare for a long-term war of attrition.