It’s official: Russia is in Stone Age, as payments freeze, and machinery is now bought for wheat

Russia’s economy is entering a critical phase as its access to hard currency erodes under the combined weight of declining oil revenues, discounted exports, and mounting sanctions pressure. The Kremlin faces mounting difficulty sustaining imports through conventional financial channels, exposing structural vulnerabilities in both trade and fiscal management. As foreign banks become increasingly cautious and payment systems more constrained, Moscow is forced to seek alternatives to cash-based trade. This economic strain threatens the country’s industrial and consumer supply chains, limiting the government’s ability to maintain both domestic stability and international commitments. In response, the state is turning to barter and goods-for-goods exchanges, resurrecting practices long considered obsolete in modern commerce. The shift signals a broader strategic retreat from the global financial system, with long-term implications for Russia’s negotiating leverage, trade efficiency, and overall economic resilience.

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