Economist: You won’t be able to talk to Russia with ultimatums
Kyiv, August 07 (Navigator, Vladimir Mikhailov) – The effect of US and EU sanctions will be limited to the fact that individual Russian oligarchs will suffer. The West's idea is a revolt of Russian billionaires against Vladimir Putin. This opinion was expressed at a press conference in Kyiv by economist Vsevolod Stepanyuk.
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“In principle, all the sanctions that the US and the EU have implemented are aimed at only one thing - to cause a revolt of the oligarchs against Putin,” he said. “For an ordinary Russian citizen, these sanctions are almost not felt. Russia is absolutely self-sufficient in terms of food, energy, resources, and technology. Of course, it is not self-sufficient in matters such as the financial sector. This sector will also suffer.
Individuals will also suffer. Well, that's all. Will this bring any benefit to Ukraine? I think not, because, in principle, it is impossible to talk with a country like Russia with ultimatums. And not a single Russian official will meet the wishes of the United States and the EU.
Will there be a revolt of the oligarchs? It’s hard to say, but looking at how the screws are tightened in Russia in terms of freedom of speech and personal freedom, I very much doubt that it will be successful. If anyone even thinks about revolt, tomorrow they will end up where Khodorkovsky was. Therefore, a revolt of the oligarchs is impossible.”
English version :: Read in English Economist: It won't work to negotiate with Russia through ultimatums