Putin's clash with Russia's top banker shows increasing disconnect over war economy, experts say

A recent clash between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Sberbank CEO German Gref shows an increasing disconnect between the Kremlin and Russia's economic community, experts say. Gref, head of Russia's largest bank, told the Eastern Economic Forum on Sept. 5 that Russia's GDP growth had slowed to near zero in July and August after a sharp drop in the April–June quarter. "The second quarter can practically be considered technical stagnation," he said. Putin pushed back, insisting lending co