There is a major opposition to crippling sanctions from some of the European powers primarily Germany and France. The US cannot risk implementing sanctions tha

There is a major opposition to crippling sanctions from some of the European powers primarily Germany and France. The US cannot risk implementing sanctions that will not be followed by its partners as at that point it would have to sanction European entities too or back down either way it loses. Europe opposes sanctions that broadly target the Russian economy especially its energy and financial sectors. Germany and the rest of Europe is still going to be buying a fuck ton of Russian gas and limiting Russian banks and financial institutions isn’t going to pass Germany as its banks have been issuing a lot of loans to Russian institutions and they still want to get paid. With Russia’s Escalate to Deescalate doctrine specifically around nuclear weapons any armed conflict is impossible. And since Europe pretty much has its hand in Putin’s trousers sanctions would also be minimal in scope. In fact I would bet on that no new sanctions would be put forward unless Russia goes outside of the “contested regions”. The West has pretty much accepted that the “breakaway” regions are now “Western Russian” and Ukraine is going to be completely screwed over by its so call partners just like Georgia.