Skip to content

If backed into a corner will Putin come out swinging? On the eve of Russia's great depression Europe braces for violent repercussions

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
Russia's economy has been halved by sanctions and falling oil prices

The sharply declining price of a barrel of oil and the harsh sanctions imposed by the U.S. and Europe have created a perfect storm for Russia's weak economy. The ruble has fallen fast, and the financial crisis that faces Russia is quickly spiraling out of control, perhaps, it is even endangering other vulnerable parts of the global economy.

Highlights

By Matt Waterson (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
12/17/2014 (9 years ago)

Published in Europe

Keywords: Europe, Ukraine, Russia, European Union, International, U.S., Oil

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The ruble recently plummeted 10% in just two days, sending alarms blaring in some of the-barely-recovering economies in Europe, Asia and South America.

Combat corruption with moral education; send a Bible to a child, or another person in need.

Many investors fear that Russia may default on foreign debt obligations, an act which could cause losses of hundreds of billions to lenders outside of Russia.

Not only could the world undergo another damaging and far more drastic recession, after having only recently emerged from the last one, but some analysts worry that this move could cause a further escalation between Russia and the United States and its allies.

Though no one is suggesting war is right on the horizon, it is not far from everyone's mind, because few see President Vladimir Putin backing down from the West.

Ian Bremmer, the president of the Eurasia Group, a political risk and consulting firm said: "I do not expect him (Putin) to blink."

The economic realities of the post-Ukraine flareup are startling.

At the beginning of 2014, Russia was the world's eight-largest economy. Its gross domestic product was $2.1 trillion.

Now it is the 15, tied with Mexico and Indonesia. A single ruble is worth less than two pennies. Since January of this year, the value of Russia's currency has been halved.

In 1998, Russia underwent a similar currency crash. But because of its highly controversial intervention in the Ukraine-especially its annexation of the Crimean region-Russia is not likely yo get help from the U.S. and Europe-backed International Monetary Fund or the World Bank organizations.

"Our deepest fear has been-and still is-that putting Mr. Putin in a `nothing-to-lose' situation removes any constraint he might have had against reneging on his foreign debt obligations, which Russian borrowers probably cannot pay off or service now," wrote Carl Weinberg, the chief economist at High Frequency Economics.

Russia's foreign debt obligations stand at over $670 billion.

---


'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'


Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Prayer of the Day logo
Saint of the Day logo

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.