Due to its position in the Ukrainian political crisis, Russia has been subjected to several rounds of economic sanctions from western countries against its energy, finance, national defense and other major sectors, causing a heavy blow to its economic growth. ANBOUND research team notes that the western economic sanctions are rapidly dragging Russia down to a third-grade country with heavily-damaged economic and financial systems. Financial deficit, rouble devaluation, high inflation and low growth rate together with the possible debt default are shaking the governing legality of the Russian government. Russia can't afford a new cold war, just paying bills for its hard-line stance on politics.