This is CBSI on the world. I'm John Batchel. Russia under sanctions, the Russian economy. I welcome my

colleague Michael Bernstom. These years, Michael has chronicled the Russian retreat, and then the

burst of energy with what was called military Keynesianism, all things for the front. In other words,

24 hours a day, seven days a week, preparing themselves for more war. However, I come to what

you can find in Apple AI now. I ask the phone, gingerly, what it makes of the Russian economy.

And I got this answer to start with.

Recent news indicates Russia's economy is slowing after a period of growth fueled by

high military spending despite facing new sanctions.

Challenges include a growing budget deficit, increasing inflation, and a significant

labor shortage that is driving up wages and production costs. I'll stop there because

Apple does a nice job of summarizing what Michael's been telling us for several years. Michael,

a very good evening to you. You and Apple agree, but the budget, you tell

me that's the critical factor here. What about it? Good evening to you. Good evening to you,

and it's not so much important that Apple and I agree. What's important is that the Russian

Ministry of Finance, the Russian Central Statistical Agency, the Russian Cabinet of Ministers, the Russian Central Bank,

and the Russian Ministry of the Economy, I have just counted to five fingers,

they all agree with that that the Russian economy has exhausted its resources of growth,

and now it is stagnating, and even the Russian, oh, I forgot to mention the Russian president.

He is now saying the Russian president that the best we can expect in 2025 is the growth of 0.6 to 0.7%

of 1%, but it is average for the year, which means that in the last several months, and we already have the data from the Russian statistical agency about output and production, that it is flat.

So they just reached sort of the wall.

And now their forecast is that they will expect no growth, the same

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