Putin Begs Oligarchs for Cash as War Budget Bleeds, Opens Door for Moldovan Recruits
Putin Begs Oligarchs for Cash as War Budget Bleeds, Opens Door for Moldovan Recruits
Russian President Vladimir Putin is pulling out all the stops to keep his war machine running, begging oligarchs for direct donations while simultaneously opening a fast-track to citizenship for men in Moldova's breakaway region—a move Kyiv warns is a desperate bid for fresh cannon fodder [112938][151263].
As Russia's defense budget surged by 42% last year, the Kremlin is feeling the financial squeeze. Putin has personally asked wealthy businessmen to cough up cash to fund the invasion after a separate meeting where he warned officials to be "moderately conservative" with spending [112938]. The request highlights a widening budget deficit as U.S. sanctions force Russia to sell its oil at a discount [112938].
Meanwhile, Putin signed a decree easing citizenship rules for residents of Transnistria, Moldova's pro-Russian rebel region [151263]. Moldovan President Maia Sandu immediately called it a move to "recruit more people for Russia's war in Ukraine" [151263]. Critics warn the decree gives Moscow access to a new pool of potential fighters in a region already dependent on Russian free gas and pensions [151263].
On the diplomatic front, Russia is playing a double game. While Kremlin officials talk tough to Europe, blaming Ukraine and the EU for the war, they are quietly begging Washington to lift sanctions and restart trade [82150]. Analysts say this two-track strategy aims to split Western allies [82150].
The cracks in Western unity are already showing. As fuel shortages hit ordinary people, some European nations are questioning the cost of sanctions against Russia [136709]. Ukraine is now fighting not just on the battlefield but in diplomatic rooms to keep the pressure on Moscow alive [136709].
On the ground, Russia believes its strong position means it can wait for a peace deal, showing no urgency to negotiate despite the economic strain [17910][17045]. Putin's demands remain maximalist: he wants Ukraine to surrender territory his military hasn't even conquered [80394].