An Assessment of the United States and European Union sanctions on Russia

Abstract

Three research questions are of great concern to this study. How can sanctions be made effective with respect to the United States and the European Union sanctions on Russia? What are the factors responsible for the noncompliance of some countries with the United States and the European Union sanctions on Russia? To what extent have the United States and the European Union sanctions modified the behaviour of Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine? This study argues that the United States and the European Union sanctions can be made effective through collective enforcement by the UN member states. Besides, some western and non-western nations have failed to enforce the US-EU sanctions on Russian economy because of the economic benefits derived from Russian gas and the criticisms among western nations that sanctions violates human rights especially of vulnerable citizens. Again, the study further argues that sanctions have weakened the Russian economy but have not deterred Russian aggression. Lastly, the United Nations in collaboration with regional and sub-regional organisations should revisit the use of sanctions as a tool for foreign policy, bearing in mind the wellbeing of vulnerable groups such as children, women and people living with disabilities in Russia who are victims of these circumstances.