Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick
Putin has already amassed a sizeable wealth. Further sanctions won’t do a thing. I guarantee it. Past Sanctions have not stopped any if their games, in fact they are increasing their hostilities, increased cyber attacks. The attempted murder on British soil, using Nerve Agent. Flying warplanes near to or approaching British airspace....
Russia already has a sizeable military hardware and stockpiles. Let’s not pretend that just because their economy is suffering, they won’t be able to suddenly defend themselves.
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The sanctions aren't designed to hurt Putin's personal wealth but to put domestic pressure on him, especially amongst the oligarchs, to stop provoking the West. Putin is only granted his power by the various factions within the Kremlin and other Russian elites. In the end he is only one man.
So the hope is sanctions cause him enough trouble with some of these people that for his own self-preservation he has cede some compromise. There is a good, quick, BBC overview of the factions that make up Russia's ruling elite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXQ3O9urYMc
At the very least the sanctions mean he has to annoy some people domestically, they offer some resistance and political cost to him. At the end of the day it's really the only tool we have since we're not going to invade.