The sanctions will only consolidate Russian society and will not cause popular discontent with the authorities, Medvedev told Russia’s RIA news agency in an interview. The West has imposed a series of sanctions on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, but a month after the war, the Kremlin says it will continue the attack until it achieves its goals of “demilitarizing and demilitarizing” Ukraine. Some of the sanctions have specifically targeted billionaire businessmen believed to be close to President Vladimir Putin. “Let us ask ourselves: can any of these big businessmen have even the slightest amount of influence from the position of the country’s leadership?” said Medvedev. “I tell you openly: no, there is no case.” Medvedev said opinion polls showed that three-quarters of Russians supported the Kremlin’s decision to launch a military operation in Ukraine, and even more supported President Vladimir Putin.
