Nigeria, Dec. 20 -- In February 2022, the United States and its allies declared economic war on Russia. Not a metaphorical war, an actual, coordinated attempt to cripple a nation through finance, trade, and energy strangulation. Over $300 billion of Russian foreign reserves were frozen overnight. Russia was cut off from SWIFT, the nervous system of global banking. Oil, gas, exports, shipping, insurance, blocked. More than 40 countries, representing roughly half of global GDP, joined the siege.



Western leaders were confident. Russia's economy, they said, would collapse by 15-20%. The ruble would disintegrate. Inflation would spiral. The Russian people would revolt. Vladimir Putin would fall. It was supposed to be quick. Surgical. Final...