As of: March 18, 2024, 7:55 p.m
By: Bona Hyun
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Elections in Russia: Putin remains in office.
What does this mean for the Ukraine war?
© Cao Yang/imago
The result of the Russian election was actually already certain: Putin presented himself as the winner with a record result.
Meanwhile, Western arms projects are on the rise.
Moscow – With the result of the Russia election, which is actually not a real election, Vladimir Putin has secured another term in office.
This is not surprising - but many people are probably now asking themselves what the result means for the further course of the Ukrainian war and the arms industry.
After the Russian election: is the big build-up against Putin beginning?
EU plans are currently making progress to boost the production capacities of the Western defense industry.
The EU Commission announced a series of agreements and subsidies on Friday (March 15):
Defense and chemical companies from Germany are to receive a large part of the new EU funding for the expansion of European ammunition and missile production.
As the responsible EU Commission announced, of the total 500 million euros, more than 130 million will be made available for German projects.
These include plans coordinated by the companies Rheinmetall, Nitrochemie and Alzchem to increase production capacity for bullets and the necessary propellants.
Up to 45 percent of the costs for producing grenades, powder, explosives and rockets should be covered, writes
Politico.
Joint arms industry – as a bulwark against Putin
According to EU circles, the EU also wants to switch to “war economy mode” and build a common European arms industry.
According to statements by EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton, the plans include, among other things, the development of a program that will enable the purchase of defense equipment and military services within EU states - the American "Foreign Military Sales" serves as a model.
Another proposal stipulates that the EU can oblige European arms companies to give priority to European contracts in times of crisis.
The Commission also wants to subsidize the production capacity of the European defense industry with one billion euros - through loans and 100 million euros from public funds - to support the industry even when demand is weak.
France, Poland and Germany agree on military aid for Ukraine
At the most recent meeting, Germany, France and Poland demonstrated unity in supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia: According to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), the countries agreed on various measures in the so-called Weimar Triangle.
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“Among other things, we will now procure even more weapons for Ukraine – on the entire global market,” said Scholz after a meeting of the so-called Weimar Triangle in Berlin.
“This is a good improvement.” In addition, the three countries have agreed on a “capability coalition for long-range rocket artillery”.
This is planned as part of the Ramstein format.
Concern after the Russia election: Could Putin boost ammunition production even further?
But what about Russia?
The longer Putin stays in power, the greater the concern that he will increase his arms production even further.
According to CNN
research
, Russia already produces three times as much ammunition as the EU and the United States combined.
NATO officials have expressed concern about this.
“We are now in a production war,” a senior NATO official told
CNN
.
Economists also attribute Putin's long term in office to the economic situation in Russia.
According to political scientists, nothing happens at the top of the state when prosperity increases.
The empirical political scientists Daniel Stockemer and Steffen Kailitz were also able to show the connection between economic well-being and the stability of autocracies in a complex study.
There are also exceptions such as North Korea, where the regime remains in power despite the poor economic situation.
Putin wins mock election in Russia – Why the president could stay in power for longer
Russia, on the other hand, according to expert Stockemer, is a prime example of an economically oriented, one-person autocracy.
By the end of 2022, GDP per capita there was around 1,000 percent higher than in 1999, when Putin was elected Russian president for the first time.
Although the West has imposed sanctions on Russia and these have significantly weakened the economy, economists were amazed at the robust economy.
The portrayal of a stable economy that Putin always spreads has also become anchored in the population.
(bohy)