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These sanctions that keep getting announced by the EU, by the U.S. and by Canada are really crazy. The people in these governments doing this have taken leave of their senses. Here are sixteen reasons why I say this.
First, it makes no sense to pressure Russia over Ukraine, which is in its backyard and has always been in its backyard.
Second, it’s senseless to inflict sanctions over Crimea when there was no invasion and when the vote to go with Russia was so one-sided.
Third, it’s senseless to impose sanctions on the notion that Russia controls the separatists in eastern Ukraine. Whatever their links are, they are murky at best and now involve self-defense against the attacks on eastern civilian centers by Kiev.
Fourth, there are no direct links between those people and businesses being sanctioned and the decisions that are expected of Russia’s leadership. The supposed effect of sanctions, which are supposed to bring a political change, is not even remotely connected to their actual economic effects.
Fifth, it is not clear what persons in Russia’s ruling bodies are expected to alter their decisions or how they are supposed to act to end the sanctions.
Sixth, the governments imposing the sanctions have no exit plans on ending them.
Seventh, sanctions are leading to a tit for tat game that is prone to escalation.
Eighth, sanctions move away from cooperation of nations and harm the populations of both sides. There are important matters where the sanctioning governments would benefit from Russian cooperation and help.
Ninth, sanctions can’t help Ukraine when Russia is a natural trading partner for it.
Tenth, it’s senseless to impose sanctions on Russia over what is primarily a civil conflict in Ukraine. Eleventh, it’s senseless to impose sanctions on Russia because of a movement for self-determination in part of Ukraine, just as it’s senseless for Kiev to be making war on people who want more autonomy and reject Kiev’s government.
Twelfth, as a general matter, sanctions tend not to have their desired results. They often stiffen the resolve of those sanctioned.
Thirteenth, Russia is simply too large a country and too important a country to sanction.
Fourteenth, Russia is going to find alternatives because of the sanctions.
Fifteenth, sanctions are simply poisoning relationships between Russia and the West.
Sixteenth, it’s senseless to be trying to push Russia around over this particular matter on its border and in which it has an interest, especially when the West jumps into many regions of the world whenever it pleases, creating havoc as it goes, and especially since the West played such an important role in stoking the change in government in Ukraine.