Russia Can Fund Military Operations in Ukraine for Another Year: The Washington Post

Russia will be able to finance military operations in Ukraine for at least another year despite tough international sanctions, according to The Washington Post, citing Pentagon confidential documents that have surfaced online.

According to the documents, not all members of Russia's economic elite agree with the Kremlin's course towards Ukraine, and many of them have been subjected to sanctions.

However, they are unlikely to withdraw their support from President Vladimir Putin and are “likely to aggressively defend the Kremlin's objectives in Ukraine” and “assist Moscow in circumventing sanctions,” U.S. intelligence states.

The Russian authorities, as noted in the document, are counting on increased corporate taxes, funds from the National Wealth Fund, increased imports, as well as the adaptability of enterprises to mitigate the impact of economic pressures to soften the effects of sanctions.

The Washington Post highlights that the intelligence report does not assess the effectiveness of recent restrictive measures or the long-term implications of setting price caps on Russian oil.

The publication adds that sanctions should not only affect the economy but also send a specific signal to the Russian elite.