I find this article's arguments less than compelling. First, bank payments within Russia will continue to function as before. Only certain Russian banks will b

I find this article's arguments less than compelling. First, bank payments within Russia will continue to function as before. Only certain Russian banks will be cut off from international bank transfers. Second, yes, the SWIFT cutoff, alongside the much heavier sanctions directed at the Russian Central Bank will result in the collapse of the rouble and Russian economy. That's the point - make it hurt, quick. If the EU, US, G20 did nothing or only small sanctions, Putin would have thought he's getting away with the invasion. If he were to win on the ground, it'd be too late then. So the approach taken, crippling sanctions and heavy supplying of materiel to Ukraine is great - it puts enormous pressure on Putin to end this quickly, while making the war even harder to win. Of course there's the possibility that he's gone mad and would start a nuclear war when feeling backed in the corner..