Elina Ribakova, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute focusing on the Russian economy, and Sergey Aleksashenko, a former Deputy Minister of Finance, share their insights on Russia's economic landscape. They discuss the impact of sanctions, revealing military production as a growth driver while non-military sectors struggle. The conversation also explores inflation issues, the ruble's devaluation, and the potential shift towards a Soviet-style economy. Additionally, they analyze the roles of China and other countries in Russia's trade dynamics.