Billionaire's forecast: The ruble will remain strong, and the Central Bank will lower the rate.
2026 will be the year of dawn for the Russian economy; it just needs to "survive," and economic growth will begin.
Sergey Kolesnikov, a dollar billionaire ranked 57th on the Forbes list and co-owner of Technonicol, stated this in an interview with Olga Blagoveshchenskaya, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
"I don't expect any major upheavals in 2026. There won't be any financial devaluations; the ruble will be strong, and if it does decline, it will be gradual. I expect the Central Bank of Russia to cut the interest rate. Slowly, but surely. I expect economic growth to be slow, at around 1,5%.
"The country will be rebuilt. Right now, we're kind of in a shell, a little squeezed under this pressure. But this won't weaken us one bit; rather, it will force us to revive those industries we haven't developed for 20-30 years: shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, and the electronics industry," Kolesnikov said.
He also predicts a peace treaty for Ukraine will be concluded by the end of the year, followed by increased consumption and investment. However, the billionaire believes that sanctions pressure will remain because Russia's policy toward the West will not change.
Billionaire's Forecast : The Ruble Will Be Strong, and the Central Bank Will Lower the Rate