President Obama recently set sanctions against Russia for their continued presence in Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.
According to the Associated Press’s Nedra Pickler’s article “Obama announces sanctions on Russian officials”, President Obama froze several US assets “of seven Russian officials, including top advisers to President Vladmir Putin, for their support of Crimea’s vote to secede from Ukraine.”
The article also states that President Obama is using this tactic to “increase the cost” to Russia as a mode of financial punishment.
This punishment is a much more diplomatic/cost-effective way of combating Russian activity than by actually going over to Ukraine to combat Russian invading forces in person.
Pickler’s article claims that these sanctions are some of the biggest “against Russia since the end of the Cold War.”
Does this mean that the United States and Russia are headed down a path that could lead to a Cold War II? Probably not.
We don’t think either the United States or Russia want to enter into face-to-face combat or even living anticipating constant attacks from one another. However, it seems like a different weapon – money, in place of nuclear warheads, is going to prove to be the biggest face-off point.
Sanctions may just be a great way to at least hinder Russian efforts in Ukraine. Perhaps these economic stumbling blocks will be enough to give the United States more time to think of a more definite way to end this Russian invasion, but it does not seem like Vladmir Putin is in any mood to back away from Crimea.
Russia easily has the military power to take away the Ukraine.
It is going to take a lot more than economic sanctions from the United States to stop Russia from any sort of full, or partial, take-over of Ukraine.
Russia is one of the biggest components of the European Union.
Any sort of financial stumbling blocks that could force Russia to reconsider any movement on any more of the Ukraine would have to be backed not only by the United States, but by the rest of the European Union.
Alone, a standoff against the Russians could prove either futile, dangerous, or both. But with added support of the nations of Europe, these economic sanctions could prove a worthwhile venture.
Despite the antagonistic approach that Russia has taken with the nation of Ukraine and its seizure of the Crimean Peninsula, it is important to remember that Russia remains a vital ally in several of the United States’ conflicts in the Middle East.
Economic sanctions help avoid the absolute carnage full-out physical war can create.
However, without the help of members of the European Union these economic sanctions may not mean much.
But this is a great option to avoid any true war with the military power known as Russia.
Any conflict with Russia is bound to get heated and fast.
That is why it is so important to keep our heads cool and take things slowly and carefully.
It seems that the folks in Washington understand that much.
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