Russia Dismisses Trump’s Warning of Economic Collapse Amid Gasoline Shortage Reports

One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top economic officials has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that Russia’s economy is on the brink of collapse. Trump, in remarks on Tuesday, said Russia faced “long lines waiting for gasoline” and urged Putin to end the war in Ukraine, which he said was making Russia “look bad.” In response, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia’s domestic fuel supply remains stable, with a balance maintained between production and consumption.

Speaking at an energy conference in Moscow, Novak emphasized that the government was taking all necessary steps to ensure continued stability in the domestic market. “We have a stable domestic market supply, we see no problems in this regard,” he said, countering Western reports of shortages. Russia’s economy, however, has shown signs of slowing, with GDP growth forecasted at 1% for 2025, compared to over 4% in the past two years.

Recent gasoline shortages in some peripheral regions were attributed to high interest rates deterring winter stockpiling and Ukrainian drone attacks that damaged refinery capacity. The Kremlin has since prioritized fuel distribution to affected areas, maintaining that the economy is deliberately cooling to prevent overheating. Moscow insists its economy has adapted to Western sanctions, while Western analysts argue that rising pressure could eventually strain Russian society and force policy shifts over the prolonged Ukraine conflict.

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