Ukraine - Russia Conflict

'Modern day' Russia ended when Putin took over.

Yelstin to Putin was like India's Congress to BJP transition. Yelstin was instrumental in turning Russia into a capitalist economy with private enterprises and removing price controls, just like Congress during the same time. But his rule was over a cesspool of ceaseless corruption. Russia was close to collapse because of him. He was also the reason why many pundits assumed Russia was done.

So, although Putin ended the possibility of democracy in Russia, he still managed to save Russia from other dangers. Best case, his successor goes back to strengthening democracy in Russia, since the main threat of collapse is gone. Or we get someone far, far worse.

He wanted to keep part of Ukraine and bend them to his will.

No, keeping that part of Ukraine in Ukraine ensured the Russians have some say in the going-ons in Ukraine. The current situation doesn't help Russia, it only weakens their presence in Ukraine.
 
Putin is not a liberal or pro-West, he's a moderate communist who supports capitalism with some conservative leaning. He wants Russians to make money, allows people to practice religion and own property, but does not care about things like LGBTQ, but allows abortions. Putin also does not like racism or any sort of discrimination, the opposite of China. He is very lenient towards Muslims, completely opposite of China. But of course, like any communist country, he wants to control the military and all strategic sectors, so he's also a socialist when it comes to maintaining political power, which is similar to China. Russia has a more liberal version of communism than China because of Putin
With his political roots in the St. Petersburg Gang and his own pro-Western wing, Putin's conservative policies are simply the only path Russia has taken after the collapse of communist ideology and neoliberal ideology.
 
Russia is currently in a no-choice friendship with China for now but is a long term enemy. Pretty soon they will achieve Western Europe levels of development. As that happens, their economy will shift from reliance on oil exports to reliance on advanced manufacturing. This will make them an economic competitor to China. Politically too, they will start favoring Indian companies over Chinese, for electronics and automobiles in particular. So Russia and China are not natural allies.
I don't see Russia reaching Western Europe's level of development any time soon, nor do I see India catching up with China in cars and electronics. India's main drivers of development are domestic consumption and infrastructure construction. India's development model is similar to Turkey's, and it does not have exports as a driving force for economic development. Even labor-intensive industries like textiles are not as developed as Bangladesh and other Southeast Asian countries.
So, although Putin ended the possibility of democracy in Russia, he still managed to save Russia from other dangers. Best case, his successor goes back to strengthening democracy in Russia, since the main threat of collapse is gone. Or we get someone far, far worse
The future of Russia will only be a large Iran, using oil and gas to meet the basic life of the domestic people while all the money is spent on war and war industry.
 
I'd actually argue that, even though it's not visible today, Russia and India will become natural partners against China. India is going to enter a construction frenzy, and Russia's natural resources are necessary
I have always had a question, where is the money for the construction of India's large-scale infrastructure coming from, India is a trade deficit country, can not rely on exports, can it rely on debt?
 
I don't see Russia reaching Western Europe's level of development any time soon,

Depends on what you mean soon. I was referring to long term, 10+ years.

Russia's HDI is 0.82, they need to cross 0.9 to get to Western Europe level. They have the money for it. So it's achievable by 2035-40.

nor do I see India catching up with China in cars and electronics.

I was referring to the Russian market. Indian automobiles are set to enter Russia in a big way, the competition will kick the Chinese out due to low quality of Chinese vehicles or force them to compete. The Russians hate Chinese cars. Similarly, Russia has shown a lot of interest in Indian tech for 5G and 6G. They are also interested in importing Indian-made smartphones and laptops. There's a lack of trust in Chinese electronics after all.

Anyway, by the mid-2030s, India will compete with China. And you should worry about sanctions the US, Japan and EU will impose if China attacks some country.

The future of Russia will only be a large Iran, using oil and gas to meet the basic life of the domestic people while all the money is spent on war and war industry.

The Russians have the money to militarize and achieve Western Europe standards of development. They have been the only country to militarize and also increase spending on welfare at the same time.

Iran doesn't have Russian level military tech, space tech, nuclear tech or are a permanent member of the UNSC.

Not sure if you can translate this image, but their GDP is diverse.
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Trade is just 18%.

The Russians are almost 100% self-reliant in every single important sector except electronics. They are independent when it comes to food, energy, logistics, military and communications. So, when it comes to electronics, they will depend on China initially and then India after that. And there's no one in their position with that level of independence. For example, both China and India have to import energy, if that's stopped, both countries will collapse. Russia only has to worry about smartphones and PCs basically.

No clue why people underestimate Russia when even the US does not.
 
I have always had a question, where is the money for the construction of India's large-scale infrastructure coming from, India is a trade deficit country, can not rely on exports, can it rely on debt?

70% tax revenue and 30% debt. The private sector invests too.

The govt announced a $1.5 trillion 5-year plan in 2019, with 79% govt funding and 21% private funding. So private players also invest a lot.

Their share in investments had fallen considerably because of the Congress govt. It should pick up again after 2025, 'cause bank non-performing loans will drop to a little over 5% compared to 2018.

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We also have some large private companies that generate revenues separately from the govt and invest on their own, like Reliance Jio and Airtel for 5G or Tata buying Air India, and sell those services independently to both the govt and public.
 
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Yelstin to Putin was like India's Congress to BJP transition. Yelstin was instrumental in turning Russia into a capitalist economy with private enterprises and removing price controls, just like Congress during the same time. But his rule was over a cesspool of ceaseless corruption. Russia was close to collapse because of him. He was also the reason why many pundits assumed Russia was done.

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What damage that was done was done by rogue elements of the KGB selling state assets off for pennies on the dollar and by the Soviet state before that. All Putin does is sell resources, Russia still has no economy outside of that.
So, although Putin ended the possibility of democracy in Russia, he still managed to save Russia from other dangers. Best case, his successor goes back to strengthening democracy in Russia, since the main threat of collapse is gone. Or we get someone far, far worse.
Worse would be difficult.
No, keeping that part of Ukraine in Ukraine ensured the Russians have some say in the going-ons in Ukraine. The current situation doesn't help Russia, it only weakens their presence in Ukraine.
He wanted to keep Crimea and the Donbass.
 
70% tax revenue and 30% debt. The private sector invests too.

The govt announced a $1.5 trillion 5-year plan in 2019, with 79% govt funding and 21% private funding. So private players also invest a lot.

Their share in investments had fallen considerably because of the Congress govt. It should pick up again after 2025, 'cause bank non-performing loans will drop to a little over 5% compared to 2018.
To be honest, your graph only shows where infrastructure investment in India is coming from, which is mainly government funding. It does not indicate how the government finances itself.
 

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What damage that was done was done by rogue elements of the KGB selling state assets off for pennies on the dollar and by the Soviet state before that. All Putin does is sell resources, Russia still has no economy outside of that.

Leave the economics part to the experts.

Worse would be difficult.

Haven't even scratched the surface.

He wanted to keep Crimea and the Donbass.

Crimea, yes. Donbas, no.

With Donbas in Ukraine, Russia would have a say in Ukrainian politics. Crimea's geography is far too important for Russia to have left it in Ukrainian hands. If he was actually a despot, he would have taken Donbas in 2014, without much effort. Could have taken Kharkiv too.
 
To be honest, your graph only shows where infrastructure investment in India is coming from, which is mainly government funding. It does not indicate how the government finances itself.

Taxes.

Lakh crore = trillion.
2021-22.

2022-23.

2023-24, first 6 months.
Direct tax up by 22%.

Indirect tax up by 12%.


And debt. Mostly taken from domestic banks. Pre-pandemic fiscal deficit was 3.8% of GDP in 2019. For this year, the aim is 5.9%. We have a budget deficit.
 
Leave the economics part to the experts.
Look who's talking. In 1990, Russia could no longer rob other Soviet SSRs and it lost a large portion of its export customers. There was no fixing that quickly. It was the West that helped them out of the hole.
Haven't even scratched the surface.
Worse than locking people up for 7 years for criticising the war in private phone calls, assassinating political opponents, and an invasion in Europe? No leader has behaved this badly since Hitler. He had his excuses and well-polished speeches too.
Crimea, yes. Donbas, no.

With Donbas in Ukraine, Russia would have a say in Ukrainian politics. Crimea's geography is far too important for Russia to have left it in Ukrainian hands. If he was actually a despot, he would have taken Donbas in 2014, without much effort. Could have taken Kharkiv too.
Donbas would effectively not have been part of Ukraine, anymore than East Germany was part of Germany.

His game was to achieve his goals via a low key support and participation in a separatist conflict, avoiding major sanctions - a DDR-ification of the Donbass. He has even used the term 'People's Republic, whenever someone employs that term you know you're dealing with a grade A, type-R asshat.
 
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Donbas would effectively not have been part of Ukraine, anymore than East Germany was part of Germany.

His game was to achieve his goals via a low key support and participation in a separatist conflict, avoiding major sanctions - a DDR-ification of the Donbass. He has even used the term 'People's Republic, whenever someone employs that term you know you're dealing with a grade A, type-R asshat.

You forget that he wasn't interested in going to war. Or he would have done it in 2014.