Whenever you hear someone conjuring Russia as a major global threat, it’s worth considering how small it actually is, both in terms of population and its economy. By population, it is only the ninth largest country, with about 146 million people, far less than the U.S. (335 million), as well as Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, not to mention the two truly enormous countries — India has 1.4 billion or China has 1.45 billion.
Russia’s population is as large as Germany and France combined, however, and over three times as large as Ukraine’s, with 44 million, but it’s still a relative pipsqueak when you consider that most of the rest of the world is allied against it.
What Putin does have in his favor is the relative neutrality of the two giant powers — India and China, neither of which really wants to get involved in this war. Plus his arsenal of nuclear. chemical and biological weapons, which he seems all too happy to threaten using.
And when you measure the size of world’s national militaries Russia does show up in the top five with 1 million in uniform — at fifth place behind China (2.2 million soldiers), India (1.5 million), the U.S. (1.4 million), and North Korea (1.3 million). Putin also has just drafted another 150,000 to support his war effort.
His soldiers’ will to fight, however, is another issue.
But besides the raw numbers of people and soldiers, a salient way to measure any country is by the size of its national economy. The U.S. GDP in 2020 stood at almost $21 trillion, which is fourteen times as large as Russia’s at $1.5 trillion. Nine other countries — China, Japan, Germany, France, South Korea, India, the U.K. Italy and Canada have bigger economies than Russia’s.
Once again, when you consider that this conflict pits Putin against the world economically, you can see how out-resourced he is. That is precisely why the economic sanctions are having such a significant impact on the conflict.
My reason for listing all of these metrics is to try and provide a mathematical context for evaluating Western media coverage of Russia’s actual power. As an empire, it is a relatively minor player, with lots of geography and a heavily militarized population, but nowhere near the economic clout to prevail.
And that, in the end, is essentially why it will not.
Today’s Headlines (60):
Ukraine strike on Russian territory reported as talks resume (AP)
Video shows helicopters attacking fuel depot inside Russia (CNN)
Russian firefighters tackle blaze after fuel depot strike (Financial Times)
Russian Strategy in Ukraine Shifts After Setbacks, and a Lengthy War Looms (WSJ)
Around 2,000 Mariupol evacuees are on the move as Russia targets Ukrainian city (Fox)
Aid convoy attempts to reach besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol (BBC)
International Red Cross team was unable to reach Mariupol (CNN)
U.S. providing Ukraine with equipment to protect against chemical attacks (Politico)
Russia’s War Lacks a Battlefield Commander, U.S. Officials Say (NYT)
Russia’s Ukraine war builds on tactics it used in Syria, experts say (WP)
Russian troops have withdrawn from Chernobyl, says Ukrainian nuclear operator (CNN)
UN nuclear watchdog to head mission to Chernobyl as Russians withdraw from site (Guardian)
'Russian mutants lost this round,' Ukraine says after troops leave Chernobyl (NPR)
As Russia drafts young men, some fear ending up on Ukraine’s front line (WP)
Could Ukraine 'win' the war? (BBC)
Russian gas was still flowing to Europe despite a deadline set by President Vladimir Putin to cut it off unless customers start paying in roubles, Moscow's strongest threat to retaliate for sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine. (Reuters)
More Mixed Signals From Russia as Ukraine War Enters Sixth Week (NYT)
EU and Chinese leaders met for their first summit in two years with Brussels pressing Beijing for assurances that it will neither supply Russia with arms nor help Moscow circumvent Western sanctions. (Reuters)
Russia's ally China tells EU it will pursue Ukraine peace in its own way (Reuters)
Last multinational empire, Russia fights to keep its colonies (Fareed Zakaria/WP)
VIDEO: U.K. Spy Chief Says Russian Soldiers Have Disobeyed Orders (AP)
Zelenskyy calls 2 Ukrainian generals traitorous and strips them of their rank (NPR)
'The last straw': Former oligarch on renouncing Russian citizenship (CNN)
Kremlin 'concerned' about U.S. 'complete misunderstanding' of Putin (Reuters)
A Nation of Spy-Catchers: Fear of Saboteurs Has Ukrainians on Edge (NYT)
Biden to Draw Down Oil Reserves in Bid to Ease Gas Prices (WSJ)
Russia war sanctions mean a struggle for Cuban car owners (AP)
Russia threatens to fine Wikipedia if it doesn't remove some details about the war (NPR)
UN: More than 4.1 million have fled Ukraine, children victimized (NHK)
International donors face tough choices as Taliban reneges on promises (WP)
I Went To A Secret Underground School For Girls In Afghanistan. It's Happening Again. (HuffPost)
Jan. 6 committee member says Jared Kushner interview was 'valuable' (Yahoo)
Trump placed at least one call using a White House phone that was omitted from the day's call log during the attack on the U.S. Capitol, The Guardian reported. Phone logs turned over to the House panel investigating the attack show a gap of seven hours and 37 minutes, and new details raise questions about the possibility of the White House tampering with official records. [HuffPost]
Pope makes historic apology to Indigenous for Canada abuses (AP)
LGBTQ groups sue Florida over the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law (NPR)
Jen Psaki leaving the White House for MSNBC this spring (NPR)
Economy added 431,000 jobs in March despite worries over slowing growth (CNBC)
Euro zone inflation surged to 7.5% in March, hitting another record high with months still left before it is set to peak, making grim reading for the European Central Bank, which needs to reconcile sky-high prices with vanishing economic growth. (Reuters)
Washington, D.C., police found five fetuses at the home of Lauren Hardy, who sat outside as officers brought out coolers. She declined to tell a reporter outside her home what was inside the coolers but said, "People will freak out when they hear." Handy was indicted along with eight others on Wednesday for her alleged role in blocking a D.C. reproductive health care clinic in 2020. [HuffPost]
Apple wields its lobbying might against LGBTQ laws (Politico)
What if College Were Free? This State Is Trying to Find Out. (NYT)
Black youth are feeling the onslaught of distorted teaching that diminishes their history and lived experiences, along with anti-LGBTQ and anti-mask measures. As conservative lawmakers across the country continue to pass bills aimed at stifling teaching and learning, Black students are feeling like collateral damage in a political firestorm.[HuffPost]
GameStop wants to make shares more affordable for meme stock lovers (CNN)
1950 census release is a 'genealogy goldmine,' can fill gaps in family trees (Detroit FP)
Seven Decades Later, the 1950 Census Bares Its Secrets (NYT)
From Russia with money: Silicon Valley distances itself from oligarchs (WP)
Scientists finish decoding entire human genome (AP)
Human blueprint breakthrough: Scientists publish ‘gapless’ human genome (WP)
A naturalist traces the astounding flyways of migratory birds (NPR)
First audio recorded on Mars reveals two speeds of sound (PhysOrg)
For the first time in California’s 171-year history, a woman has signed a bill into state law. (AP)
California voters will get a chance in November to vote on legalizing sports wagering, which could unleash a huge new industry in the state. (Politico)
San Francisco predicts that 1 in 3 employees will continue teleworking. Here’s why the city could see revenue drop by more than $64 million next year as a result. (SFC)
Amazon workers in NYC vote to unionize, a first for company (AP)
‘A cry for help’: CDC warns of a steep decline in teen mental health (WP)
Sleeping with even a little bit of light isn't good for your health, study shows (NPR)
Lying Is Its Own Form of Storytelling (Atlantic)
NFL Satisfies Outraged Fans With New Overtime Rule That Both Teams Win (The Onion)
TODAY’s LYRICS:
“Go Your Own Way”
Sung by Fleetwood Mac
Written by Lindsey Buckingham
Loving you
Isn't the right thing to do
How can I ever change things
That I feel
If I could
Maybe I'd give you my world
How can I
When you won't take it from me
You can go your own way
Go your own way
You can call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
Go your own way
Tell me why
Everything turned around
Packing up
Shacking up is all you want to do
If I could
Baby, I'd give you my world
Open up
Everything's waiting for you
You can go your own way
Go your own way
You can call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
Go your own way
You can go your own way
Go your own way
You can call it
Another lonely day
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
Go your own way
You can call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
You can call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
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