Joint US-EU Sanctions Could Deal Devastating Blow to Russia, Ambassador Suggests
The West continues to increase sanctions pressure on Russia in an attempt to bring about changes in its policies. However, the Kremlin is not only showing no signs of relenting, but also claims that the restrictions are strengthening the Russian economy. In response, the United States and Europe are preparing new, tougher measures that could significantly affect Moscow's economic stability, explained Ukraine's Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2010-2017), Oleksandr Levchenko.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to the broadcast of the FREEDOM TV channel.
"Sanctions are being adopted with increasing intensity in order to somehow influence changes in Moscow's policy. But, unfortunately, the sanctions policy has no effect on the Kremlin's political behaviour. Moreover, the Kremlin boldly claims that sanctions, on the contrary, strengthen the Russian economy. Well, if they are strengthening, then they should be extended," the expert said.
The sanctions may be tougher than they have been so far if they are joined by US restrictions on Russia.
"US President Donald Trump has spoken about sanctions. A bill by Senator Lindsey Graham has also been registered in the Senate. The sanctions are very serious, deadly. And if Putin is going to try to play the peace card again, as he has for the past three years, the Europeans have warned that they are preparing a new package of sanctions. And we are waiting, of course, if the United States joins in with the Graham draft resolution," Levchenko said.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that Kyiv does not want to end the war, that Ukraine is used to war, the expert recalled.
"Right now, they offered to go to Istanbul to talk about ending the war, but Putin was afraid to go there. He sent his [aides]," the expert concluded.
As The Gaze reported earlier, on 14 May, European Union ambassadors officially approved the bloc's 17th package of sanctions against Russia, significantly expanding restrictive measures in response to Moscow's ongoing war against Ukraine and its global destabilising activities.