Russians' Big Questions for Putin: War and Money Matters

Russians are getting ready for their president's yearly live Q&A. A recent survey shows that people are most worried about two big things: the ongoing war and the struggling economy. The survey, done by the independent Levada Center, asked over 1, 600 Russians what they wanted to ask Putin. A lot of them, about one in five, want to know when the war in Ukraine will be over. The Kremlin calls it a "special military operation, " but many people just see it as a war. Right after the war, the economy is the next big worry. About 16% of people want to know how they can deal with the rising costs of living. They're concerned about salaries, pensions, and benefits. These two issues have been the top concerns for the past three years. Other worries include rising prices and taxes, which 8% of people want to ask about. Six percent are concerned about utilities and social services, and 5% want to talk about the healthcare system.Russia's economy is feeling the strain. High inflation and big defense spending are putting pressure on social spending. The country has been on a wartime economic footing since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This has led to Western sanctions, which have changed trade flows. Despite the challenges, Russia's economy has seen some growth. But energy export revenues are down, and high inflation is hurting consumer demand. Putin's "Direct Line" Q&A is a big deal. It's been happening for years, and it gives people a chance to ask the president questions. Last year, Putin admitted that the economy was overheating. He blamed the central bank and the federal government for not doing enough to control prices and credit growth. This year, the Q&A is happening on Friday. Putin is also expected to hold an end-of-year news conference. People will be watching closely to see what he says about the war and the economy.