Russia-US Tensions Escalate with WWIII Rhetoric as Russian Economy Shows Strain

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and current security official, has invoked World War III threats in response to Donald Trump’s warning about Putin’s troop movements near Ukraine. "What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things WOULD have already happened in Russia," TRUMP posted on Truth Social, prompting Medvedev’s retort that global conflict represents the "only REALLY BAD thing" for Russia.

Meanwhile, Russia’s wartime economic resilience shows cracks. Wage growth slowed to 4.2% in late 2024 according to FT analysis, signaling erosion of the financial buffers that sustained domestic support for Putin’s regime. The cooling labor market coincides with prolonged military expenditures and international sanctions.