Putin Flags Russia's Economic Slowdown and GDP Decline

Regional and independent outlets emphasise warnings from within the Russian government that the easy sources of growth are used up. They argue that the sharpest contraction in three years shows the limits of a war‑driven, state‑directed model under sanctions. They expect Moscow to face harder choices between military spending, social support, and long‑term investment if the downturn continues.

• •Maxim Reshetnikov’s remark that Russia’s economic reserves are largely exhausted signals limited room for further stimulus.
• •The current GDP slump is described as the sharpest contraction Russia has seen in three years.
• •Russia’s war‑focused spending is portrayed as crowding out broader development and private investment.
• •Sanctions and export controls are presented as key reasons for the slowdown in manufacturing and trade.
• •Future policy debates in Moscow are expected to centre on how much more the economy can bear from prolonged war costs.