Political analyst Viktor Bobyrenko said this on Espreso TV.“Putin is bluffing very hard right now. And in all these negotiations we are somehow ignoring the China factor — how far China is ready to support Russia. I closely follow what’s happening in Russia, and their economy is not just weakening, it has already taken a major hit. Ukraine’s economy is in better shape than Russia’s, because Europe is helping us,” he explained.The analyst noted that Russia’s economy has already begun collapsing and that without China’s help, Putin’s regime will be unable to plan a budget for even one more year of war.“Today, the key question remains whether Putin is really bluffing or whether Xi Jinping promised him something. That’s why I think the hardest deadline will be September 3. At the parade in Beijing, they will appear together and make a joint statement. Until then, I wouldn’t make any forecasts,” he said.“Although I can say for sure that by spring the Russian Federation won’t survive. Russia’s economy today cannot escape the collapse it has already entered. Their economy is crumbling like a house of cards. If Europe votes for the 19th sanctions package against Russia and the U.S. also imposes sanctions, the annual budget deficit will reach up to 8 trillion rubles. The National Wealth Fund is already gone. In such conditions, Russia cannot build a budget for another year of war. Of course, unless China intervenes,” Bobrynenko summed up.On August 18, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Russia’s war against Ukraine would not have been possible without China’s support for Moscow.