Can Sanctions Deter Russia From Invading Ukraine?

Economic sanctions remain one of the most powerful tools the United States has in its foreign policy arsenal. And as Russian forces continue to amass along the border with Ukraine, officials in the U.S. hope the threat of those sanctions can deter a full-scale invasion.

Besides sanctions that target individuals or specific companies, some proposals involve cutting Russia off from the SWIFT system, which would remove Russian institutions from an important global financial network.

Another target is the near-completed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which when operational would double the amount of natural gas moved from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea and likely reduce the need for other pipelines, such as the Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhhorod pipeline that runs through Ukraine.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has proposed a bill that would require automatic sanctions against Nord Stream 2 operators within two weeks of Russia invading Ukraine. The bill failed to pass on Thursday, but picked up a handful of Democratic votes in the final tally.

Democratic Sens. Robert Menendez, of New Jersey, and Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hampshire, proposed an alternative bill that would “impose crippling sanctions on the Russian banking sector and senior military and government officials if President [Vladimir] Putin escalates hostile action in or against Ukraine.”

Watch the video above to find out how U.S. sanctions work, whether the U.S. can persuade allies to cut off Russia from the important SWIFT financial network, and what’s next in the foreign policy standoff between the West and Russia.

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Can Sanctions Deter Russia From Invading Ukraine?

[meganreed]

US/NATO: you will pay a great price for invading Ukraine!
Russia: so you sell it? deal!

[Steven-xfmz]

Sanctions is not a powerful tool as many people believe it is. The whole purpose of sanctions is to punish the citizens of that country, creating chaos through economic warfare, which hopes leading up to a civil unrest and a war so US can move in with their military. Sanctions can target individuals but can't hurt anyone powerful or rich in any country. NK is one of the poorest countries out there, has sanctions done anything to it at all? does NK really have any business with any countries that dislike them in the first place? If NK doesn't care about sanctions, why would Russia care at all.

[joeperkins]

The answer is no!
Putin himself said they have been sanctioned for decades. Due to this they have learned to be independent. Because of this, he laughed at the idea of heavier sanctions several years ago. If by any chance they needed something, I'm sure their allies China would help out anyway.

[shawnm]

December 19 2014, 44 imposed sanctions on Russia for illegally invading the Ukraine and annexing the Crimea. January 16, 2022, Russia is still in the Crimea.

[MrOccyc]

When was the last time sanctions ever worked on deterring aggression? It’s the Neville Chamberlain approach to appeasement.

[eltonbritt]

North Korea on sanctions: "We eat sanctions for breakfast."
Russia: "Lol"🤭

[codemcloud]

No matter what's going on in Ukraine or Taiwan it is no justification for U.S. soldiers to be sent to die because politicians want to talk tough. Anyone who wants to vote for war should have to go themselves. Our sons and daughters were sent to IRAQ all based on lies and over 5000 were sent back in body bags.

[khmanandy]

Like Russia is worried about any type of actions from the U.S., we are literally a nonplayer currently. Besides the Afghanistan debacle shows that our administration is not worth taking seriously.

[landoofficials]

so basically, our president just threatened Russia. That sounds like a really bad idea!

[td]

No, because sanctions don't deter anyone from doing anything. Sanctions are an economic form of terror bombing, and we discovered during WW2 that bombing a country to smithereens doesn't actually reduce the support of the ruling regime therein, rather it does the opposite and cements the hatred of the regular people against the aggressor.

[flyingbanana]

US to European nations:
We will sanction you for buying Russian gas. Now you have to buy our gas for a higher cost or be sanctioned. That’s how Allie’s work. Lmao

[anastasiagileva]

You guys promised that Russia is to invade Ukraine at January 7th.
Then you promised it's gonna be January 12th.
It's still not there. What an awkward situation!

[wumao]

Don't rely too much on the NORD stream to affect Russia. It would affect the EU more than Russia.

[Andrew-fezi]

did sanctions ever deter anyone from anything?

[huydang]

Since when have sanctions ever worked as a deterrent? If anything, it usually make the intended recipient double down on their own stance

[ReTethered]

Ukraine: "We need military assistance against Russia"
US/Nato: "Don't worry we'll sanction them"
Ukraine: "Aw **** we gonna lose..." 😐

[owenwillard]

The story: russia and ukraine on the brink of a major military conflict
The music: 😊👍

Germany has really been making stupid moves lately, turning anti nuclear and pro gas are so incredibly stupid it completely changed my opinion of Germany.

[ambassadoroftruth]

The answer is no, sanctions will not deter Putin. Russia has many pipelines going through Ukraine that feed Europe and have billions in investments there.

[Lybrel]

“People think Russia is less friendly so hopefully that would stop Putin” HAHAHA. Who’s this Senator?