Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has called on state-owned companies and large businesses to invest more actively in the Russian economy following a sharp slowdown in its growth.
According to official data, Russian GDP grew by only 0.2% in the first five months of 2026.
Despite the Kremlin’s calls, Russia’s largest companies are cutting back on their investment programs. According to Rosstat, capital expenditures fell by 14.3% in the first quarter—the worst figure since 2009. Gazprom, Novatek, Russian Railways, Rosatom, and Severstal, among others, have already confirmed the decline in investments.
Experts attribute the situation to high interest rates, sanctions, falling corporate profits, and uncertainty about the future of the Russian economy. Against this backdrop, businesses are increasingly postponing the launch of new projects, limiting themselves to completing those already underway.
Source: The Moscow Times.
As a reminder, Russia, the aggressor state, is ready to return to negotiations with Ukraine only after seizing the entire territory of the Donetsk region, Bloomberg reports, citing two sources close to the Kremlin.
A BILD analyst speculated that Russia could capture Kostiantynivka by the end of the year.
Putin’s approval rating has plummeted to its lowest level since the start of the full-scale war, according to pollsters.
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