This does not surprise me. The GDP of the Russian Federation is something like $1.8 trillion. Italy is about $2.3 trillion, with the USA at $17 trillion. Putin will quickly go bankrupt without outside financial help.
Our debt to GDP ratio is over 100%, not including unfunded liabilities. No matter how you spin it, that’s bad. Our debt to national income is even worse. We are the nation flirting with bankruptcy here. Our ability to export our inflation is the only thing keeping us afloat and that’s what everything is all about. IMO. I’m not saying the sky is falling, but I am saying it isn’t 1985 anymore. The game has changed.