Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the western democracy has enacted broad sanctions aimed at complicating and increasing the costs of its war efforts. EU envoy David O’Sullivan described these sanctions as not a “magic bullet” but essential for slowing Russia’s military operations. While there have been improvements in reducing circumvention through Central Asian states due to diplomatic efforts, challenges remain in Southeast Asia, where many products are manufactured.
O’Sullivan emphasized the need to identify financial institutions aiding in the shipment of military goods to Russia, warning them of potential listings if they do not comply. Coordinating the 14 sanctions packages across 27 EU member states also presents a challenge. Nonetheless, he believes these measures are pushing Russia into a war economy, impacting its economic future significantly over the next few years.
