Inside Russia today

[Divitias]

Will the economy at home bring an end to the war:

Public sentiment in Russia is increasingly pessimistic as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, with mounting economic strain and stalled diplomacy fueling frustration among citizens, based on a report by The Washington Post.

Washington Post: Mood in Russia turns bleak as war drags on and economic...

Internet shut downs, demonstrations and arrests

Popular unrest in Russia; Putin launches repressive wave of high-level political arrests

When things change in Russia they can happen very quickly

[Goofyhoofy]

Yup. The two former giants find themselves stuck with both feed in the mud: Russia in Ukraine, the US with Iran. Meanwhile fast rising star China sits back and smiles as it takes over the world by peaceful means.

You would think after Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan we would learn, but apparently the guys with the steering wheel are too busy to notice.

[ges]

@Goofyhoofy

You would think after Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan we would learn, but apparently the guys with the steering wheel are too busy to notice.

Trump is completely out of his depth and Hegseth wants to put his mighty military to any use he can. Not good.

[Divitias]

Just came across this video about people who fled Russia at the start of the war. He gives an interesting account about how living standards shot up under Putin since he came to power. All gone now unfortunately as many who left had money and skills:

Where The Russians Who Fled Conscription Are Now

I was a bit surprised at how well off the average Russian had become.

[Leap1]

@Goofyhoofy

Meanwhile fast rising star China sits back and smiles as it takes over the world by peaceful means.

We did the same thing. These recent movements echo what happened with nationalization of resources decades ago. Saying sweet nothing won’t stop the process.

Yes, Chinese companies are increasingly facing resource nationalism in developing nations (often referred to as the Global South or formerly “third world” nations), where governments are tightening control over critical mineral assets, according to reports from January 2026.

[image]ThinkChina +4

This trend, marked by stricter regulations and sometimes direct state intervention, is aimed at increasing local value capture from natural resources.

[image]ThinkChina

Key Aspects of Resource Nationalism Affecting China:

• Diluted or Nationalized Assets: Chinese companies, such as Ganfeng Lithium Group and Tianqi Lithium Corp., have experienced asset nationalization or stake dilution in countries like Chile and Mexico.
• The “Indonesia Model” (Export Bans): Indonesia has set a precedent by banning exports of unprocessed nickel to force foreign firms—predominantly Chinese—to build local smelters and processing plants. Rather than leaving, many Chinese companies (e.g., Tsingshan Holding Group) have adapted by investing billions in local industrial parks to maintain control over the value chain.
• Targeted Resources: The surge in resource nationalism is focused on critical, energy-transition metals such as copper, cobalt, and lithium.
• Sophisticated Regulatory Intervention: Recent waves of resource nationalism often involve more complex fiscal policies and tightened regulations rather than just outright seizure, with significant surges in activity reported throughout 2025.

[image]The China-Global South Project +1

While these actions are part of a broader, global push for resource sovereignty, they create a challenging environment for China, which has invested heavily in these regions to dominate global mineral supply chains.

[image]The China-Global South Project

[Goofyhoofy]

@Leap1

While these actions are part of a broader, global push for resource sovereignty, they create a challenging environment for China, which has invested heavily in these regions to dominate global mineral supply chains.

Wishful, and perhaps hallucinogenic thinking. Sure, countries get concerned about lopsided deals, that’s nothing new. The US has faced it for more than a century: Iran (oil), Venezuela (oil), Haiti (bananas), Congo (cobalt), Chile & Argentina (lithium), Chile (copper), Canada (timber), Angola/Sierra Leone (diamonds & gold), and many more.

We have reached pushback in many of these efforts, others are willing to take the hit to have the flow of American dollars. So were we at one point: happy to have British pounds coming in buying tobacco and cotton - until we weren’t.

For the moment China is doing very well, thank you, and there seems to be but a handful of “pushbacks”, while other countries, starved for cash inputs, are happily signing up for the extraction economies which follow.

[Leap1]

I’d say it’s early yet in terms of lets see what the next 20 years brings.

If we get that far.