The Treasury Department announced yesterday that it was imposing “one of its most significant sanctions actions to date” against various sectors of the Russian economy. The sanctions aim at:
"....metals and mining sector, its financial institutions, its military supply chain and individuals and companies worldwide that are helping Moscow avoid existing sanctions". [snip]
Friday’s sweeping actions are meant to fill in gaps in existing sanctions that have been imposed over the past year of the war and are intended to impair “key revenue generating sectors in order to further degrade Russia’s economy and diminish its ability to wage war against Ukraine,” according to a White House fact sheet." (our emphasis)
A year after the most recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, nine years after Crimea was invaded, and six years after Russia interfered in our elections and we're still filling in "gaps" in our sanctions.
At each milestone of Russian abuses, what are described as "punishing," "heavy," and "significant" sanctions are levied on them, leaving us to wonder if that's the case, why are there always new sanctions being applied if previous ones were so devastating? Apparently, they weren't, or Russia is able to sidestep them, or both. Simply put ,our rhetoric needs to match reality, and if we're going to impose sanctions, they should be broad and deep, not ones that chip away at Russia and are incomplete. Just like dilly dallying on major weapons systems, delays and half-measures are costing Ukrainians their lives.
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