Charles Maines

And then there's the economy. Today, Russia is the world's most sanctioned state, but those are largely Western-imposed sanctions. So big-name Western companies like McDonald's, Apple, and Starbucks, they've all left. But the country has pivoted to new markets and new trade partners, often in China. So the result is that most of what you buy and what you say, read and watch, it's all changed.

And then there's the economy. Today, Russia is the world's most sanctioned state, but those are largely Western-imposed sanctions. So big-name Western companies like McDonald's, Apple, and Starbucks, they've all left. But the country has pivoted to new markets and new trade partners, often in China. So the result is that most of what you buy and what you say, read and watch, it's all changed.

And then there's the economy. Today, Russia is the world's most sanctioned state, but those are largely Western-imposed sanctions. So big-name Western companies like McDonald's, Apple, and Starbucks, they've all left. But the country has pivoted to new markets and new trade partners, often in China. So the result is that most of what you buy and what you say, read and watch, it's all changed.

Yeah, you know, the government claims that Russian society is united behind the war effort and state polls would support that. But some would certainly point to the repressions that you mentioned earlier. Meanwhile, we've got tens of thousands of Russians who fled the country in opposition to the war, thousands more who've gone to jail for civil disobedience at home.

Yeah, you know, the government claims that Russian society is united behind the war effort and state polls would support that. But some would certainly point to the repressions that you mentioned earlier. Meanwhile, we've got tens of thousands of Russians who fled the country in opposition to the war, thousands more who've gone to jail for civil disobedience at home.

Yeah, you know, the government claims that Russian society is united behind the war effort and state polls would support that. But some would certainly point to the repressions that you mentioned earlier. Meanwhile, we've got tens of thousands of Russians who fled the country in opposition to the war, thousands more who've gone to jail for civil disobedience at home.

And just in conversations I have regularly with people who aren't government critics or politically active per se, they just tell me they wish the whole thing would end.

And just in conversations I have regularly with people who aren't government critics or politically active per se, they just tell me they wish the whole thing would end.

And just in conversations I have regularly with people who aren't government critics or politically active per se, they just tell me they wish the whole thing would end.

You know, I think it's fair to say there's been a surging confidence in Moscow with Trump's suggestions that he may end military support to Ukraine, a big part of it. But there's also just a feeling that Russia, which faced repeat setbacks early on in the war, can now just outlast Ukraine, whatever Trump ends up doing.

You know, I think it's fair to say there's been a surging confidence in Moscow with Trump's suggestions that he may end military support to Ukraine, a big part of it. But there's also just a feeling that Russia, which faced repeat setbacks early on in the war, can now just outlast Ukraine, whatever Trump ends up doing.

You know, I think it's fair to say there's been a surging confidence in Moscow with Trump's suggestions that he may end military support to Ukraine, a big part of it. But there's also just a feeling that Russia, which faced repeat setbacks early on in the war, can now just outlast Ukraine, whatever Trump ends up doing.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.