Thread: Economic Sanctions against Russia and Russia’s Retaliatory Trade Measures

Do you think that this was the right decision from the Russian Government

I think there is no other possibilities left.

Originally Posted by maxmixiv

I think there is no other possibilities left.

In the last days I am studying the book of Sun Tzu, the "Art of War" and I have collected many "clever lines". Three of them I think apply in the case of Russia:
1. The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
2. Pretend inferiority and encourage the enemies arrogance.
3. The winner will be the the country that knows when to fight and when not.

Russian government has many other tools to use and the biggest is it's political influence in: (a) China (b) Iran (c) Syria (d) Libya (e) Venezuela (f) Cuba (d) Eastern Europe (e.g. Moldavia, Belarus, Baltics) (e) Central Asia (f) Caucasus (g) Central Africa (h) Pakistan etc.
No need for an economic war with economic superpowers like USA and EU.
I think the most effective tool would have been ignorance and pretending that nothing happens to Ukraine.
Shortly, keep the line of Putin: "What happens in Ukraine doesn't have do to anything with Russia"

Originally Posted by Antonio1986

In the last days I am studying the book of Sun Tzu, the "Art of War" and I have collected many "clever lines". Three of them I think apply in the case of Russia:
1. The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
2. Pretend inferiority and encourage the enemies arrogance.
3. The winner will be the the country that knows when to fight and when not.

Russian government has many other tools to use and the biggest is it's political influence in: (a) China (b) Iran (c) Syria (d) Libya (e) Venezuela (f) Cuba (d) Eastern Europe (e.g. Moldavia, Belarus, Baltics) (e) Central Asia (f) Caucasus (g) Central Africa (h) Pakistan etc.
No need for an economic war with economic superpowers like USA and EU.
I think the most effective tool would have been ignorance and pretending that nothing happens to Ukraine.
Shortly, keep the line of Putin: "What happens in Ukraine doesn't have do to anything with Russia"

Everything about that is incorrect or inaccurate. The Russians who replied are in denial (not surprising). Every one of them.

Today, big-talking Putin has sanctions against Canada's imports of food. It will hurt the domestic/farming market in Canada but for Russia, stuff like that will cause inflation and shortages of food. I think Russia should ban food products/imports from every Western country it can. Have fun receiving Chinese food imports? Or wherever they're going to get it. Even if Russia finds other partners, it won't help to choose China instead. Russia will be at a trade disadvantage. They are not sustaining. Putin might want to make Russia into some EurAsian empire but other than getting cheap labour from the Caucasus, their main exports are still the same ones - oil, mining(?), machinery/weapons(?). Also, I believe that imports from agricultural products often came from Ukraine? So, they are in trouble there, too. Expect some economic consequences in those areas that are probably unanticipated or ignored by many Russians who refuse to consider the fallout because they have been taught to avoid criticism of Government policies and bow down to anything the Kremlin does. This is not a 'pro-West' view by any means, it one of realism and a critique of another Government that doesn't sustain itself. Western ones don't either but they are not getting hit with as many sanctions. The reason that the EU was soft on the sanctions is the same reason - they are not sustaining and also invested heavily in the Russian economy so certain entrepreneurs and large companies (read: corporations) didn't want to take the hit.

Originally Posted by 14Russian

Everything about that is incorrect or inaccurate. The Russians who replied are in denial (not surprising). Every one of them. ...

Yours is the wrong way to approach discussion. You are passing judgement on something you have not viewed for yourself firsthand. You might have your opinion, but being so categorical never helps mutual understanding.

Originally Posted by Lampada

Yours is the wrong way to approach discussion. You are passing judgement on something you have not viewed for yourself firsthand. You might have your opinion, but being so categorical never helps mutual understanding.

Yes, it's my opinion and I explained and elaborated in the same post. There should be mutual undersanding



I only explained why Russians that posted in this topic underestimated the trade sanctions and demonstrated a rational theory about the current status/state of the Russian economy. So, I theorized that they were inaccurate based on the facts. It does not matter why or who are included in the sanctions. Even if Russia finds other customers, they are at a huge disadvantage. If they are 'buddies' with China concerning trade, they are a massive disadvantage.

14Russian, why suddenly so much care for Russians?
Oh that evil Putin, oh he wants to neglect Russians.
First of all what you are saying almost word to word repeats Western MSM, so you don't deliver anything new here.
Second, if you would talk to Russians (even here) you would notice that many of them approve the ban and think of it as more good than bad. But it seems that you want to believe Western MSM and don't want to believe Russians which you are trying to "protect".
Your position perfectly fits to "sour grapes" story and that's position also taken by many Western politicians right now. It's understandable, many people don't want to admit reality if it shows them in bad shape.
I wonder if Canada will try to do something even more stupid, like Australia talking about banning Uranium trades with Russia. Mr. Abbott was obviously so not ready to admit that Australia would be affected by Russian sanctions that he wants to shoot himself to the other leg.

The truth is the West doesn't know Russia or Russians, but not only it claims that it does, it also thinks that it knows better what Russians want and need. Ignorance and snobbism, that are unfortunate qualities of current Western politicians.