A thousand Russian companies are on the verge of bankruptcy. Millions of employees are being rationalized. Predictions of mass protests are in order. Food is scarce. The Ruble is down to a penny. (0.0119)Stock market to be closed on March 1.

Ruble Plunges To 80 Against The Dollar As Putin Recognizes Breakaway Republics

TOPLINE

 Russia’s stocks and currency were the worst performers on global markets Monday, as President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing two partially separatist-controlled regions in Ukraine as independent states, a move that provoked renewed threats of severe economic sanctions against Russia should it invade Ukraine.

Putin’s 40 miles of killing machines taunt Ukraine’s capital as Russia unleashes air power blitz

As Russia’s war on Ukraine continues, some experts warn Russia might escalate the conflict further either in Ukraine or against the western nations supporting it, with the goal of forcing those nations to capitulate to its demands.

This strategy, former Defense Intelligence Agency officer Rebekah Koffler told Fox News, is called “escalate to de-escalate.” It has roots in Russia’s planning for a war against the United States, Koffler said, but similar thinking is now standard throughout Russia’s military planning.

During a theoretical war with the U.S., Koffler said, Russia would strike first by “popping a low yield tactical nuke thinking that it’s going to be such a psychological shock that the conflict would end.”