The Moscow muddle

The people are now divided into two: one group wants victory over Ukraine, the other yearns for peace. But, both anticipate a decline in the standards of living

- VLADIMIR ROZHDESTVENSKI

Spring has arrived in Moscow. It is sunny outside and the sky is deep blue. It seems like the perfect time to enjoy the weather, but nobody does so. All passers-by are on their smartphones, following the events in Ukraine and the new sanctions that western countries are imposing on Russia. Ask passers-by what day it is, and they most likely will take time to answer. But, they can tell you that the dollar exchange rate at the Russian Central Bank is more than 100 roubles, up from only 75 roubles a week ago. But even at the new rate, it is impossible to buy dollars. Banks sell it at 150 roubles for a dollar

It all started about a fortnight ago with several addresses by Russian President Vladimir Putin to fellow citizens. The addresses came like an explosion, completely unexpected by the majority of the population, since almost everyone believed that the warnings by NATO countries about Russia’s impending attack on Ukraine was nothing more than western propaganda. However, on February 24, Putin told fellow citizens: “In December 2021, we once again made an attempt to agree with the United States and its allies on the principles of ensuring security in Europe and on the non-expansion of NATO. Everything is in vain. The US position does not change.”