This piece was written by Juan Miguel Diaz Ferrer a university professor and one of the founders of the International Movement of Russophiles. It was originally published in Spanish by Ultimas Noticias (Latest News), Venezuela.

Throughout its history, Russia has demonstrated an extraordinary capacity for resistance and has been able to win under the most unfavorable conditions. More than one Western invader has paid dearly for forgetting this historical experience. This was the case with the Teutonic, Polish and Lithuanian invaders many centuries ago. It happened again to Napoleon in the early nineteenth century. In the 20th century, Hitler thought he could outdo them all and defeat Russia, then still the Soviet Union, but was crushed by the tremendous resilience of the Soviet-Russian people. But imperial arrogance prevents us from learning the lessons of history.

Now, in the 21st century, the neo-fascists they call NATO have come to believe that Russia can be defeated by using Ukraine as the tip of the spear, providing it with gigantic military and financial aid from the collective West, while simultaneously applying the largest sanctions program in history to the country to bring down the Russian economy. To the West’s surprise, Russia has not only remained afoot, but has become much stronger and is triumphantly advancing on all fronts.

In the economic sphere, this resilience is expressed as follows: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that the country’s GDP growth in 2024 will be 4.1%. This growth was driven by high military spending. “We have exceeded expectations,” said Mikhail Mishustin. Over the past two years, Russia recorded the highest growth rates since 2021. “This is primarily due to the intensive growth of the manufacturing industry.” While France’s GDP grew by just 0.6 percent and Germany’s economy is in the midst of a crisis. According to Bloomberg calculations based on data from the Finance Ministry, Russia’s total revenue encompassed more than 4 trillion rubles [$40 billion] in December, up 28% from the same month a year earlier. This is the highest level recorded in the ministry’s data since January 2011.

Undoubtedly, Russia today represents the lotus flower, which since ancient times has symbolized the art of coming out victorious after trials and tribulations. It is the flower that always reemerges with absolute beauty no matter what the conditions around it.