DISINFO: The goals of the West regarding sanctions on Russia collapsed one after another
SUMMARY
Western sanctions against Russia have been ineffective, with shifting objectives and unclear goals. Initially aimed at deterring Russia from invading Ukraine, they failed. Later, the focus shifted to collapsing Russia’s economy, banking system, and currency, hoping this would prompt an elite or popular mutiny against Putin. However, these goals were not achieved, and the sanctions mainly served as a political stance rather than an impactful economic measure.
RESPONSE
This claim misrepresents the latest sanctions discussed by EU members in October 2024, promoting a familiar pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the ineffectiveness of sanctions against Russia, despite clear evidence showing otherwise.
Contrary to the implications of this disinformation narrative, the latest sanctions are not simply bilateral economic measures. In early October 2024, ambassadors from the 27 EU member states met in Brussels and approved a new legal framework designed to impose visa bans and asset freezes on individuals responsible for sabotage attacks and hybrid threats, following number of incidents in Europe for which Moscow has been credibly indicted.
Sanctions are effectively weakening the Russian war economy, as highlighted by the EU's 14th sanctions package adopted in June. This package targets liquefied natural gas and Russia’s shadow fleet transporting sanctioned oil globally. These measures have reshaped Russia's foreign trade and restricted access to critical battlefield supplies. Additionally, data from the Russian customs service shows that export revenues have dropped by approximately one-third between 2022 and 2023, underscoring the tangible impact of these sanctions.
Furthermore, it is Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine that is hurting the global economy, and not sanctions against Russia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has destabilised global food markets and is driving food prices up due to increased cost of production, transport and freight insurance. Russia has also destroyed substantial food stocks, production, as well as processing and transport capacities in Ukraine. Indeed, it also affects the economy of the EU, but there are no signs of “destruction”.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that New EU sanctions will be as useless and harmful for Europe as previous ones, that Europe’s unescapable dependence on Russia has it on the edge of the abyss or that Sanctions that were supposed to destroy Russia may disintegrate the EU.