How Sanctions Can Work

“Can sanctions really stop Putin?” the editors of the New York Times asked in April. It’s a question on many minds as sanctions and military assistance to Ukraine have become principal means of trying to halt Russian aggression. Addressing the question requires assessing the measures now in place and understanding what sanctions can and cannot accomplish. The economic sanctions enacted against Russia are among the most comprehensive ever imposed. Joining the United States in applying sanctions are the states of the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and others—more than thirty countries in all, representing a majority of the world’s economic output. The measures fall into three broad categories: financial sanctions that freeze Russian assets, export controls that deny access to advanced technology, and energy sanctions that reduce Russian revenues. © 2022. Dissent. All rights reserved.