Janis Kluge
@jakluge.de
Russia & Economics
All views private
German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP Berlin)
Picture: Tamek Kowalski
All views private
German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP Berlin)
Picture: Tamek Kowalski
Remember when the US had a president who was able to spread positivity and happiness, not just obscenities and hatred.
Donald Trump will spend Christmas Eve with his billionaire friends at Mar-a-Lago on the taxpayers' dime.
Barack Obama spent his Christmas Eve as President surprising kids at a children's hospital. Don't forget what real leadership looks like.
#BlueCrew #ProudBlue #TrumpIsUnfitForOffice
Barack Obama spent his Christmas Eve as President surprising kids at a children's hospital. Don't forget what real leadership looks like.
#BlueCrew #ProudBlue #TrumpIsUnfitForOffice
December 25, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Remember when the US had a president who was able to spread positivity and happiness, not just obscenities and hatred.
Reposted by Janis Kluge
🌲Wir wünschen frohe und erholsame Feiertage sowie einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!
Merry Christmas, relaxing holidays and a Happy New Year!🌲
Merry Christmas, relaxing holidays and a Happy New Year!🌲
December 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
🌲Wir wünschen frohe und erholsame Feiertage sowie einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!
Merry Christmas, relaxing holidays and a Happy New Year!🌲
Merry Christmas, relaxing holidays and a Happy New Year!🌲
Hab gehört ein deutschlandweit bekannter Germanist und Mediendarsteller hat gestern wilde Thesen über die russische Wirtschaft und deutsche Vermögenswerte aufgestellt. Wann kommt der Punkt, bei dem sich unsere "Universalgenies" final lächerlich gemacht haben?
December 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Hab gehört ein deutschlandweit bekannter Germanist und Mediendarsteller hat gestern wilde Thesen über die russische Wirtschaft und deutsche Vermögenswerte aufgestellt. Wann kommt der Punkt, bei dem sich unsere "Universalgenies" final lächerlich gemacht haben?
Clearly, Zelenskyy's video from Kupyansk was a major issue for Putin. Today's show had a special segment dedicated to it. Putin said he doesn't pay attention to these kinds of things.. and that the sign looked different, and that it was far from the actual town etc... Right.
December 19, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Clearly, Zelenskyy's video from Kupyansk was a major issue for Putin. Today's show had a special segment dedicated to it. Putin said he doesn't pay attention to these kinds of things.. and that the sign looked different, and that it was far from the actual town etc... Right.
Putin ganz der Kriegsherr heute, geht die neuesten Eroberungen in der Ukraine durch, sichtlich bemüht, stabile Fortschritte zu kommunizieren, während der Krieg bald in das 5. Jahr geht.
December 19, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Putin ganz der Kriegsherr heute, geht die neuesten Eroberungen in der Ukraine durch, sichtlich bemüht, stabile Fortschritte zu kommunizieren, während der Krieg bald in das 5. Jahr geht.
Russia is losing billions of dollars each month because of oil sanctions... Discounts on Russian oil have risen to 30% and in some cases over 50% (!) relative to Brent.
Source: www.hellenicshippingnews.com/sanctions-dr...
Source: www.hellenicshippingnews.com/sanctions-dr...
December 18, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Russia is losing billions of dollars each month because of oil sanctions... Discounts on Russian oil have risen to 30% and in some cases over 50% (!) relative to Brent.
Source: www.hellenicshippingnews.com/sanctions-dr...
Source: www.hellenicshippingnews.com/sanctions-dr...
630,000 boys are born each year in Russia.
420,000 men are recruited and sent to the meat grinder.
420,000 men are recruited and sent to the meat grinder.
December 18, 2025 at 3:22 PM
630,000 boys are born each year in Russia.
420,000 men are recruited and sent to the meat grinder.
420,000 men are recruited and sent to the meat grinder.
By the way, Putin did not use the "mother pig - little pigs" metaphor for the first time when speaking about the US and Europe. In 2019, he called the Europeans (or US NATO allies) the "grunting satellites" of Washington.
Source: www.interfax.ru/russia/651348
Source: www.interfax.ru/russia/651348
December 18, 2025 at 1:10 PM
By the way, Putin did not use the "mother pig - little pigs" metaphor for the first time when speaking about the US and Europe. In 2019, he called the Europeans (or US NATO allies) the "grunting satellites" of Washington.
Source: www.interfax.ru/russia/651348
Source: www.interfax.ru/russia/651348
Ist das ein Übersetzungsfehler? Er hat genau das Gegenteil gesagt.
Links:
www.mdr.de/nachrichten/...
www.kommersant.ru/doc/8294111
Links:
www.mdr.de/nachrichten/...
www.kommersant.ru/doc/8294111
December 18, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Ist das ein Übersetzungsfehler? Er hat genau das Gegenteil gesagt.
Links:
www.mdr.de/nachrichten/...
www.kommersant.ru/doc/8294111
Links:
www.mdr.de/nachrichten/...
www.kommersant.ru/doc/8294111
Should a peace negotiator constantly bring home gifts for his boss from one side in the negotiations? Oh, and it's the side that started the war and doesn't want to end it...
December 18, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Should a peace negotiator constantly bring home gifts for his boss from one side in the negotiations? Oh, and it's the side that started the war and doesn't want to end it...
Russian defense minister Belousov says that 5.1% of GDP (from the Russian MOD's budget) is spent directly on the war against Ukraine, while other expenditure has been cut to 2.2% of GDP. The total budget of the MOD is 7.3% in 2025.
Source: kremlin.ru/events/presi...
Source: kremlin.ru/events/presi...
December 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Russian defense minister Belousov says that 5.1% of GDP (from the Russian MOD's budget) is spent directly on the war against Ukraine, while other expenditure has been cut to 2.2% of GDP. The total budget of the MOD is 7.3% in 2025.
Source: kremlin.ru/events/presi...
Source: kremlin.ru/events/presi...
According to Russia's defense minister, the Russian army recruited 409,611 men in 2025, as of December 17, and expects a total of 420,000 this year. This is down from last year (449,243) but above plan (403,000).
Source: kremlin.ru/events/presi...
Source: kremlin.ru/events/presi...
December 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM
According to Russia's defense minister, the Russian army recruited 409,611 men in 2025, as of December 17, and expects a total of 420,000 this year. This is down from last year (449,243) but above plan (403,000).
Source: kremlin.ru/events/presi...
Source: kremlin.ru/events/presi...
The red line is what Russia views as its own border (from today's presentation of the defense minister Belousov). I think negotiations are hopeless at this point. First, the frontline needs to be stabilized.
December 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
The red line is what Russia views as its own border (from today's presentation of the defense minister Belousov). I think negotiations are hopeless at this point. First, the frontline needs to be stabilized.
At least some good news: The Russian budget is going to suffer over the next months...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
December 16, 2025 at 2:03 PM
At least some good news: The Russian budget is going to suffer over the next months...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Expectations management: There won't be a Ukraine deal anytime soon. This is what it would take to get Putin interested in negotiations:
1.) Territorial "presents" in Donbas.
2.) Ukrainian army below 100.000 men and strict limits on weapons.
3.) No functioning security guarantees.
1.) Territorial "presents" in Donbas.
2.) Ukrainian army below 100.000 men and strict limits on weapons.
3.) No functioning security guarantees.
December 16, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Expectations management: There won't be a Ukraine deal anytime soon. This is what it would take to get Putin interested in negotiations:
1.) Territorial "presents" in Donbas.
2.) Ukrainian army below 100.000 men and strict limits on weapons.
3.) No functioning security guarantees.
1.) Territorial "presents" in Donbas.
2.) Ukrainian army below 100.000 men and strict limits on weapons.
3.) No functioning security guarantees.
Trust me on this—a demilitarized zone in Russian-controlled territory is pure fantasy. It will never happen. The fact that this is being discussed at all is a testament to the extremely low levels of Russia competence among the US negotiators.
December 14, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Trust me on this—a demilitarized zone in Russian-controlled territory is pure fantasy. It will never happen. The fact that this is being discussed at all is a testament to the extremely low levels of Russia competence among the US negotiators.
"Kritiker" waren hier Putin und die russische Propaganda. Seit neuestem auch Trump, der auf die russische Propaganda reinfällt und jetzt Druck auf Selenskyj ausübt. Selenskyj ist ohne jegliche Zweifel der legitime Präsident der Ukraine, und das muss auch so dargestellt werden.
December 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
"Kritiker" waren hier Putin und die russische Propaganda. Seit neuestem auch Trump, der auf die russische Propaganda reinfällt und jetzt Druck auf Selenskyj ausübt. Selenskyj ist ohne jegliche Zweifel der legitime Präsident der Ukraine, und das muss auch so dargestellt werden.
Usually, 18% of Russian budget spending happens in December. This year, only 13% is left - if Russia wants to stay within its budget plan. Most likely, the plan will change. Historical patterns indicate total spending of 45 trillion rubles and a deficit of 8 trillion rubles (3.6% of GDP).
December 9, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Usually, 18% of Russian budget spending happens in December. This year, only 13% is left - if Russia wants to stay within its budget plan. Most likely, the plan will change. Historical patterns indicate total spending of 45 trillion rubles and a deficit of 8 trillion rubles (3.6% of GDP).
If Ukraine actually gave up Donbas (which is simply not feasible and almost certainly won't happen), this would go down on history as one of the biggest mistakes ever made. It would not lead to peace, Russia would keep attacking, just from a much better starting position.
December 8, 2025 at 8:14 PM
If Ukraine actually gave up Donbas (which is simply not feasible and almost certainly won't happen), this would go down on history as one of the biggest mistakes ever made. It would not lead to peace, Russia would keep attacking, just from a much better starting position.
Some in Europe are hoping for a "dirty peace" in Ukraine. In my view, that is wishful thinking. It is based on the assumption that we can go back to pre-2022 in Europe. But we can't. The war will only stop when resistance against Russia is strong enough. It will be a long way...
December 8, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Some in Europe are hoping for a "dirty peace" in Ukraine. In my view, that is wishful thinking. It is based on the assumption that we can go back to pre-2022 in Europe. But we can't. The war will only stop when resistance against Russia is strong enough. It will be a long way...
Putin does not have a clear vision for the "end state" of the war in Ukraine. He is happy with the way things are going, but there is no clearly defined goal. To Putin, the war is more like shaking a tree and enjoying the fruit that falls.
December 8, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Putin does not have a clear vision for the "end state" of the war in Ukraine. He is happy with the way things are going, but there is no clearly defined goal. To Putin, the war is more like shaking a tree and enjoying the fruit that falls.
PS: Strictly speaking, based on historical averages, the expected deficit is 3.8% of GDP.
December 3, 2025 at 1:41 PM
PS: Strictly speaking, based on historical averages, the expected deficit is 3.8% of GDP.
Russian federal budget execution at the end of November 2025 continues to suggest an additional unplanned overrun of 1% of GDP this year and a deficit closer to 3.5% of GDP than the expected 2.6% of GDP.
December 3, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Russian federal budget execution at the end of November 2025 continues to suggest an additional unplanned overrun of 1% of GDP this year and a deficit closer to 3.5% of GDP than the expected 2.6% of GDP.
Russian oil and gas revenues slightly fell in November (the effects of US sanctions will only show in the coming months).
December 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Russian oil and gas revenues slightly fell in November (the effects of US sanctions will only show in the coming months).
Russia published its budget report for Q3 of 2025. Military spending is not slowing down. In Q3, it was 38% higher than last year (3.6 trillion rubles in Q3, 11.9 trillion rubles so far for the year). Good news: Federal recruitment data is back!
November 17, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Russia published its budget report for Q3 of 2025. Military spending is not slowing down. In Q3, it was 38% higher than last year (3.6 trillion rubles in Q3, 11.9 trillion rubles so far for the year). Good news: Federal recruitment data is back!