1. Defunding the War Against Ukraine: Economic Strategies for Countering Russian Aggression
- Author:
- David Cortright and Anna Romandash
- Publication Date:
- 12-2023
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Fourth Freedom Forum
- Abstract:
- The sanctions imposed by the United States and many of its allies on Russia since 2022 have been unprecedented. The current financial, economic, trade, and other restrictions aim to constrain Russia’s ability to continue its aggression. Imposed by most developed countries, the sanctions and export controls have the potential to diminish Russia’s war-making capacity, weakening state finances and eroding its military technological base. The measures have imposed significant costs on Russia, but to date they have not achieved their objectives due to Russia’s elaborate circumvention and preparatory strategies and the lack of compliance by many countries and companies. The success of sanctions as a means of constraining Russian aggression will depend on closing channels of evasion and tightening the enforcement of these measures. This report reviews the sanctions and export controls enacted to date and the effects they are having on Russia’s industrial economy. It also examines the principal gaps in sanctions enforcement that Russia has exploited. It identifies actions by companies and countries that are profiting from sanctions circumvention and are enabling Russia to continue its illegal war and annexation of Ukrainian territory
- Topic:
- Sanctions, Exports, Energy, and Russia-Ukraine War
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Europe, and Ukraine