Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, asserted that Russia’s gross domestic product (GDP) has shown growth and that this progress was influenced by developments within the European Union. He conveyed this message on his English-language account on X (formerly Twitter), framing the situation as a notable economic dynamic between Moscow and Brussels during a period of shifting sanctions policy.
In remarks tied to the implementation of the 12th package of EU sanctions against Russia, Medvedev commented that the European economy appeared to be entering a recession. His perspective places emphasis on the broader macroeconomic backdrop and suggests a contrast with Russia’s own GDP trajectory as reported by official statistics, which he highlighted elsewhere in his communications.
According to the data cited by Russian authorities, Russia’s GDP reportedly grew by 5.5% year over year in the third quarter and by 7.8% in the second quarter of the year. These figures are presented as a counterpoint to Western economic trends, used to illustrate resilience or growth independent of external pressures. The statement, quoted by Medvedev, frames the EU’s measures as a possible catalyst for Europe’s economic conditions while Alexei Putin’s administration portrays Russia as maintaining positive momentum in its national accounts.
Medvedev closed his online remark with a pointed line of gratitude directed at the EU: EU, thank you for the growth! The phrasing underscores a narrative that attributes Russia’s perceived gains to external economic interactions and sanctions dynamics, a framing often observed in official communications from Moscow during periods of Western sanctions and counter-sanctions exchanges.
In the days leading up to these remarks, the European Union’s 12th package of sanctions against Russia was made public, listing 61 individuals and 86 legal entities. The measures named a variety of Russian actors and entities, including the Alabuga special economic zone, PJSC Tupolev, and Rosfinmonitoring, along with its head, Yuri Chikhanchin. The sanctions also targeted media and political administration channels such as the TV channels Spas and Tsargrad, and 14 members of Russia’s Central Election Commission. A separate note mentioned the son of Dmitry Medvedev, Ilya, who serves as deputy chairman of the Security Council, as another individual of interest in these actions, illustrating the broader reach of the EU’s restrictive measures during that period. Medvedev’s mention of his son’s status in this context reflects the overlapping concerns about governance and economic policy that often accompany such geopolitical moves.
Earlier, there were media reports indicating that Medvedev’s son had reacted to his inclusion on the EU sanctions list, a development that underscores the personal dimension some sanctions regimes impart on political families and internal Russian political discourse. The interplay between official economic data, sanctions policy, and individual sanctions lists forms a complex backdrop for statements from Moscow about economic performance and external pressures.