I'm John Bachelore, the director of the Eresia Program at the Quincy Institute for

Responsible State Craft, Dr. Anat Leaven, just back from Moscow.

And in Moscow, there have been changes, although not profound

that I can measure.

This isn't like criminology who's wearing a hat on Lenin's tomb as they watch the parade. However, it is significant that names

we've had for the two years of war have moved to other portfolios.

Shoyko, for example, the defense minister is now in charge of state security in some fashion

as I understand it.

And the new head of the Ministry of Defense is the most significant change that I can read.

Beliosef, I believe I've said it correctly, but Nantau will help me.

Because the economy needs balancing.

Anatole we spoke of this before your trip.

Does the economy look balanced to you?

There are lots of reasons to believe that the sanctions regime,

while a blow initially to Russia, there has been compensation at all levels and the energy

is still being sold just to new customers.

Yes, well I mean in Moscow, I think to be honest it's very difficult to detect any very negative impacts of sanctions.

I mean you see many more Chinese cars on the roads and you did

previously and there's far less Western food in the food stores but of course Russia produces lots and lots and lots of its own food.

I mean it's completely impossible to starve Russia.

There seems to be a great deal of money still floating around in Moscow.

Clearly, a lot of Russians have brought their money back from the West for fear of

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