Russia rebuffs Trump’s economic collapse claims amid Ukraine tensions

RUSSIA has dismissed claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that the country is on the brink of economic collapse, following his comments linking fuel shortages to President Vladimir Putin’s handling of the war in Ukraine.

Speaking on Tuesday, Trump expressed frustration over what he described as Putin’s failure to bring an end to the conflict, adding that domestic fuel scarcity was a sign the Russian economy was faltering.

However, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak rejected the remarks, insisting that the country's energy market remains resilient.

“We have a stable domestic market supply, we see no problems in this regard,” said Novak. “The balance is maintained between production and consumption, and we, on the part of the government and the relevant ministries, are doing everything to ensure that this remains the case.”

His remarks come amid ongoing Western criticism of Russia’s war in Ukraine and international sanctions that have pressured parts of the Russian economy, though officials in Moscow have repeatedly asserted that key sectors such as energy remain robust. - October 15, 2025