Weak economy could push putin to talks with Ukraine - Foreign Affairs

The economy is a weak point for the aggressor country of russia. If Western sanctions become even tougher, the crisis could force dictator vladimir putin to negotiate with Ukraine.

This was reported by the Foreign Affairs on Monday, December 9.

Moscow believes it has momentum on its side and is not ready to compromise. Kyiv, meanwhile, continues to fight and is not ready to surrender. Transformation of Trump’s desire to end the war into a stable settlement will require the West to first increase pressure on Moscow to gain leverage at the negotiating table. Otherwise, a hasty ceasefire on terms very favorable to russia may simply become a short pause before the Kremlin reaches for more.

"Fortunately for the West, russia has a critical vulnerability: its economy. Many observers have bought into the lazy narrative that sanctions imposed on Moscow at the start of the war have failed and that its economy is suffering. In fact, the sanctions have done significant damage and reduced the Kremlin's room for political maneuver, and now the russian economy is suffering dangerous distortions as the costs of the conflict pile up," the article says.

According to the publication, in October, russia was suffering 1,500 casualties a day. In addition, the russian budget is being eaten up by the costs of the war against Ukraine. If Moscow's energy revenues are cut, the aggressor could face an economic and military crisis. Thanks to the tightening of the sanctions loop, russia's war effort will become less financially sustainable, and due to domestic discontent and worsening economic conditions, putin may feel pressure to accept terms more favorable to Ukraine.

"Washington and its European partners can act immediately, using the remaining weeks in the administration of US President Joe Biden to put pressure on russia's access to both energy revenues and technology imports," the publication writes.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on November 21, the US Department of the Treasury (OFAC) imposed sanctions on more than 100 entities in the russian financial sector. Gazprombank topped the sanctions list.

The aggressor country of russia has already lost hundreds of billions of dollars due to sanctions, but continues to earn funds that allow it to continue the war against Ukraine.