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Sanctions obviously isn’t a viable deterrent against Russia, so sanctions at this point is just giving the optics of action. The underlying problem is no doubt

Sanctions obviously isn’t a viable deterrent against Russia, so sanctions at this point is just giving the optics of action. The underlying problem is no doubt the dependency on Russia for energy. Europe will have to fix this problem as soon as possible.

unfocussed_mike 5y ago
Sanctions targeting oligarch wealth (making it impossible to move more money out of Russia, or targeting Russian businesses in which they hold stakes etc.) might well work. As would international restrictions on the movements of oligarchs, politicians and their families. It seems to me that this move from Putin is rather more unhinged than normal, and a lot of people around him will be looking for the exits. Denying them the exits so they have to stay home and do something about it might be a better strategy. I think we will see some quite inventive sanctions rolling out from tomorrow.
- zx85wes 5y ago
  They'd be doing him a favour if they target these oligarchs, and that's why they haven't done it yet. https://www.cnbc.com/2015/03/20/putin-urges-billionaires-to-bring-money-back-to-russia.html https://www.cnbc.com/2015/03/20/putin-urges-billionaires-to-...
  - unfocussed_mike 5y ago
    The sanctions won't let them bring that money back at all -- they will likely prevent large transactions full stop, so oligarch money can't return. It will stop them exfiltrating further wealth, and that ought to scare them enough when the walls start closing in, as they will. There will come a time when Putin threatens an escalating global conflict and that is when they will finish him. Perhaps literally.