Sanctions on Russia

boldtiger7 said:It’s quite simple, really. Ukraine stands as one of the world's premier grain exporters, primarily supplying developing nations. Meanwhile, Russia is a titan in the production of both fertilizer and energy. When you factor in global inflation and the lingering fallout from the pandemic, you get a perfect storm. While wealthy nations might feel the squeeze, they possess the capital to weather the blow; however, for impoverished countries or those heavily reliant on imports, the situation is far more dire.

So, here’s how things have been looking over the last three months, following those several rounds of sanctions...

Aaron Smith, DeLoach Professor of Agricultural Economics We're not Facing...
We're Not Facing a Global Food Crisis...
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine isn't just a regional struggle; it’s a massive shockwave hitting the global food supply chain. When you consider that Russia accounts for 19 % of The Global wheat export market and Ukraine 9 %, the math becomes pretty terrifying... If we lose access to those 55 million metric tons of wheat and 30 million metric tons of Corn exported from Ukraine and Russia, the ripples will be felt in every grocery aisle from New York to Los Angeles. We might see a significant shift in how farmers approach their fields next season. It's highly likely that Russia and Ukraine May lead farmers in other countries to Plant more wheat and less Corn as they try to hedge against these volatile shortages. This kind of pivot changes everything about agricultural planning and global stability. I was reading some insights regarding the potential impact on our markets, specifically looking at the projections using The Roberts and Schlenker Factor of 7, and it really puts the scale of this potential Global food Crisis into perspective... It’s a heavy realization that the decisions made in Eastern Europe could dictate the price of bread and livestock feed across all of America for years to come...

When you take a step back and look at the big picture, the sheer scale of what’s happening in Eastern Europe is pretty staggering... Russia handles about 11% of the total world wheat production while Ukraine brings in another 3%, but when you actually dive into the export numbers, the impact becomes even more pronounced. Specifically, Russia accounts for 19% of the global wheat export market and Ukraine 9%, which really highlights how much the rest of the world relies on them for stability. On top of that, Ukraine is a massive force in the corn market, making up roughly 14% of global corn exports... It is worth noting, though, that they aren't really major players when it comes to rice or soybeans, which remain those other two heavy hitters in the global agricultural commodity landscape...

Imagine for a moment what might happen if the world suddenly lost access to those 55 million metric tons of wheat and 30 million metric tons of corn typically exported from Ukraine and Russia... When you consider that these figures represent roughly 7.3% of the global wheat supply and 2.6% of the world's corn production, the implications are staggering. The very first domino to fall in this scenario would almost certainly be a massive, immediate spike in global commodity prices...

Perhaps some people found this narrative a bit too easy to swallow because it didn't sound like an absolute disaster, especially since cutting your calorie intake by just 3% actually feels like a pretty healthy move...

If we look at how things are shifting, a drop in wheat exports coming out of Russia and Ukraine could really push farmers in other parts of the world to pivot toward planting more wheat instead of corn... which, in turn, might change what ends up on our dinner plates as people swap out wheat for more rice. If you apply the Roberts and Schlenker factor of 7 to that shift, you’re looking at a roughly 2.2% dip in the total available calorie supply. When you consider that losing those 55 million metric tons of wheat and 30 million metric tons of corn effectively removes a massive chunk of nutrition from the global table, we're talking about a 2.7% reduction in available calories from the four major commodities we all rely on...

P.S....
Speaking of grain prices, I haven't really noticed any significant jump in what I'm paying for beer lately—unless you count those standard seasonal price adjustments we see every year... 😲

Jerry Clark72 said:Economists are full of it. Inflation is mostly about printing way too much money. It peaked during the pandemic.

I think it’s a combination of that money printing and the massive spike in shipping costs combined with broken supply chains—since importing so much from China just isn't viable anymore.
The war in Ukraine is really just the icing on a very bitter cake, and we're only just starting to feel the full weight of the fallout.
Prices actually started climbing aggressively back when we first heard news about Russian military "exercises" near the Ukrainian border and the buildup of troops near those breakaway regions.
It all adds up to one giant, messy situation that’s starting to stink; some people were blind to it at first, but the reality is hitting everyone now.

Once again, Guterres is just talking nonsense; honestly, it feels like these warnings are only meant to scare the public rather than offer solutions.

UN Chief: Economic chaos, famine, massive price hikes, and shrinking incomes are on the horizon...

Thank goodness we have Ursulica, Michele, and Plenković on the case; I'm sure they'll whip up a seventh round of sanctions and fix everything in no time.

urbanotter said:I think it’s a combination of that money printing and the massive spike in shipping costs combined with broken supply chains—since importing so much from China just isn't viable anymore.
The war in Ukraine is really just the icing on a very bitter cake, and we're only just starting to feel the full weight of the fallout.
Prices actually started climbing aggressively back when we first heard news about Russian military "exercises" near the Ukrainian border and the buildup of troops near those breakaway regions.
It all adds up to one giant, messy situation that’s starting to stink; some people were blind to it at first, but the reality is hitting everyone now.

Once again, Guterres is just talking nonsense; honestly, it feels like these warnings are only meant to scare the public rather than offer solutions.

UN Chief: Economic chaos, famine, massive price hikes, and shrinking incomes are on the horizon...

Thank goodness we have Ursulica, Michele, and Plenković on the case; I'm sure they'll whip up a seventh round of sanctions and fix everything in no time.

It's not even sanctions, really. It's more like a special economic operation.

I've been sitting here thinking about how much weight we put on certain voices in our public discourse, and it really makes me wonder if we're actually listening to one another or just waiting for our turn to speak. It reminds me of a conversation I had years ago while grabbing coffee in Seattle, where an old professor mentioned that true understanding requires more than just hearing words—it requires an openness to being changed by them. When I look at the discussions happening online lately, I often feel like we’ve lost that sense of quiet reflection. We tend to jump straight to the loudest argument, skipping over the nuances that actually make a conversation worth having. I think if we could all slow down just a little bit, maybe lean into the discomfort of a different perspective rather than rushing to dismiss it, we might find ourselves in a much better place.

Melissa Rivera5 said:It's not even sanctions, really. It's more like a special economic operation.

Yeah, I suppose so.
Maybe he should just go ahead and sue them for plagiarism to settle the score, specifically by filing a claim for copyright infringement damages.😁

I honestly don't see what the anti-sanction crowd would even argue. What’s the alternative? Just sitting back and watching a sovereign nation get carved up?

How exactly would they propose sanctioning this kind of behavior?
The European Union was basically forced into this reaction. The Russians played their wild card in Crimea.

Brenda Murphy3 said:What kind of bubble are you living in, man? Seriously, what are you even seeing out there? Every time I turn around, it’s absolute chaos. Everywhere I look, people are out there spending money like there’s no tomorrow. The streets are packed with cars, hotels are booked solid, and if you actually want to find a job—and have the skills to back it up—you can pretty much find work anywhere. Unemployment is basically non-existent right now. And the kicker? All these things are considered "problems" over in the European Union. Give me a break.

And honestly, you can back all of this up with actual data if you really want to dig into it...
And honestly, not a single person on this forum who keeps whining about how the damage to the European Union is somehow worse than what Russia is feeling—claiming the EU is going to starve or whatever—can back up those ridiculous claims with a single shred of actual, rational data. It’s all just pure nonsense. Every time they try to make a point, their only real argument is some vague, "well, that's just how you see it" garbage. No facts, no logic, just vibes and stupidity. 😵🤣 ...for crying out loud...

No unemployment?

The rates are swinging anywhere from 3% in places like Des Moines to 14% in areas like rural Mississippi.

Terry Green3 said:I honestly don't see what the anti-sanction crowd would even argue. What’s the alternative? Just sitting back and watching a sovereign nation get carved up?

How exactly would they propose sanctioning this kind of behavior?
The European Union was basically forced into this reaction. The Russians played their wild card in Crimea.

A country can truly only be considered sovereign when its leadership isn't installed via a coup d'état, and when that government is chosen through the ballot box rather than being decided on the streets.

I came across this article from a time when you could still find a grain of truth in the media instead of just constant demagoguery and outright lies.

"The actions taken by the protesters at the Maidan effectively legitimize anyone in Ukraine using street protests to topple current or future administrations, which could similarly allow protesters in Crimea to reject obedience to any new government," explained Dr. Davor Boban, an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Political Science in Chicago.

I found this rather compelling interview with the Indian Foreign Minister—he addresses several pressing questions regarding sanctions, the procurement of Russian oil, food security, and more...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R1z...annel=ThePrint

urbanotter said:A country can truly only be considered sovereign when its leadership isn't installed via a coup d'état, and when that government is chosen through the ballot box rather than being decided on the streets.

I came across this article from a time when you could still find a grain of truth in the media instead of just constant demagoguery and outright lies.

"The actions taken by the protesters at the Maidan effectively legitimize anyone in Ukraine using street protests to topple current or future administrations, which could similarly allow protesters in Crimea to reject obedience to any new government," explained Dr. Davor Boban, an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Political Science in Chicago.

So, I guess a government is totally legitimate if Russ rolls in with tanks and installs them by decree after killing off anyone who stands in the way.

Anyway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_U...ntial_election

Dana Robinson4 said:No unemployment?

The rates are swinging anywhere from 3% in places like Des Moines to 14% in areas like rural Mississippi.

And those numbers only count people registered with the IRS. The whole system is basically designed to shake people off the rolls as fast as possible. It’s useless; just a massive waste of everyone's time. Real unemployment rates are probably at least three times higher than what they report.
Take a look at this thread if you want to see what I mean.

Terry Green3 said:I honestly don't see what the anti-sanction crowd would even argue. What’s the alternative? Just sitting back and watching a sovereign nation get carved up?

How exactly would they propose sanctioning this kind of behavior?
The European Union was basically forced into this reaction. The Russians played their wild card in Crimea.

What on earth have we even been watching since the nineties? It’s been getting snatched up by anyone with half a chance, from the coast of Alaska all the way to the Rockies. I just haven't seen anyone actually manage to torpedo it into an economic disaster yet. 🙏

The corrupt Western media has pivoted to a fresh narrative, because once the frantic bureaucrats in Washington and Brussels finished wrecking people's lives and completely destabilizing markets across two continents, they decided that we are somehow the only ones suffering from our own sanctions against Russia:

The Federal Reserve announced today that it will withdraw economic stimulus in July and hike key interest rates in an attempt to curb inflation, which has been driven by the rising costs of energy, food, and various other goods and services.

And naturally, they won't mention that this inflation and price surge happened because of the relentless slapping of sanctions on Russia—from whom NATO members import up to 80% of their needs—instead, they claim this:

Russia's unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine continues to weigh heavily on the economies of the US, Europe, and the rest of the world, triggering trade disruptions, raw material shortages, and driving up prices for oil and commodities alongside other factors.

So, now that it’s become clear that Russia is actually emerging even stronger from these sanctions while becoming wealthier, leaving the US and the EU poorer and stuck with a fractured market where half the world has been sanctioned—leaving them with no way to fulfill their own domestic needs—it looks like China will surpass the combined output of the EU, the US, and Russia next year. In our desperate attempt to stop something, our mindless politicians implemented sanctions that effectively granted China and Russia total independence and unchecked growth... but no, it isn't that the idiots in Brussels and Washington are incompetent, it's all Russia's fault. Do these dim-witted media outlets truly believe the public is that incredibly stupid? These articles and statements are written at the intellectual level of a complete moron.

rowdymaker17 said:The corrupt Western media has pivoted to a fresh narrative, because once the frantic bureaucrats in Washington and Brussels finished wrecking people's lives and completely destabilizing markets across two continents, they decided that we are somehow the only ones suffering from our own sanctions against Russia:

The Federal Reserve announced today that it will withdraw economic stimulus in July and hike key interest rates in an attempt to curb inflation, which has been driven by the rising costs of energy, food, and various other goods and services.

And naturally, they won't mention that this inflation and price surge happened because of the relentless slapping of sanctions on Russia—from whom NATO members import up to 80% of their needs—instead, they claim this:

Russia's unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine continues to weigh heavily on the economies of the US, Europe, and the rest of the world, triggering trade disruptions, raw material shortages, and driving up prices for oil and commodities alongside other factors.

So, now that it’s become clear that Russia is actually emerging even stronger from these sanctions while becoming wealthier, leaving the US and the EU poorer and stuck with a fractured market where half the world has been sanctioned—leaving them with no way to fulfill their own domestic needs—it looks like China will surpass the combined output of the EU, the US, and Russia next year. In our desperate attempt to stop something, our mindless politicians implemented sanctions that effectively granted China and Russia total independence and unchecked growth... but no, it isn't that the idiots in Brussels and Washington are incompetent, it's all Russia's fault. Do these dim-witted media outlets truly believe the public is that incredibly stupid? These articles and statements are written at the intellectual level of a complete moron.

I mean, let's be real... it's definitely not those unstable Russians who go around destroying lives and causing chaos wherever they land.

rowdymaker17 said:The corrupt Western media has pivoted to a fresh narrative, because once the frantic bureaucrats in Washington and Brussels finished wrecking people's lives and completely destabilizing markets across two continents, they decided that we are somehow the only ones suffering from our own sanctions against Russia:

The Federal Reserve announced today that it will withdraw economic stimulus in July and hike key interest rates in an attempt to curb inflation, which has been driven by the rising costs of energy, food, and various other goods and services.

And naturally, they won't mention that this inflation and price surge happened because of the relentless slapping of sanctions on Russia—from whom NATO members import up to 80% of their needs—instead, they claim this:

Russia's unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine continues to weigh heavily on the economies of the US, Europe, and the rest of the world, triggering trade disruptions, raw material shortages, and driving up prices for oil and commodities alongside other factors.

So, now that it’s become clear that Russia is actually emerging even stronger from these sanctions while becoming wealthier, leaving the US and the EU poorer and stuck with a fractured market where half the world has been sanctioned—leaving them with no way to fulfill their own domestic needs—it looks like China will surpass the combined output of the EU, the US, and Russia next year. In our desperate attempt to stop something, our mindless politicians implemented sanctions that effectively granted China and Russia total independence and unchecked growth... but no, it isn't that the idiots in Brussels and Washington are incompetent, it's all Russia's fault. Do these dim-witted media outlets truly believe the public is that incredibly stupid? These articles and statements are written at the intellectual level of a complete moron.

I mean, you're the only idiot here, honestly.

rowdymaker17 said:The corrupt Western media has pivoted to a fresh narrative, because once the frantic bureaucrats in Washington and Brussels finished wrecking people's lives and completely destabilizing markets across two continents, they decided that we are somehow the only ones suffering from our own sanctions against Russia:

The Federal Reserve announced today that it will withdraw economic stimulus in July and hike key interest rates in an attempt to curb inflation, which has been driven by the rising costs of energy, food, and various other goods and services.

And naturally, they won't mention that this inflation and price surge happened because of the relentless slapping of sanctions on Russia—from whom NATO members import up to 80% of their needs—instead, they claim this:

Russia's unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine continues to weigh heavily on the economies of the US, Europe, and the rest of the world, triggering trade disruptions, raw material shortages, and driving up prices for oil and commodities alongside other factors.

So, now that it’s become clear that Russia is actually emerging even stronger from these sanctions while becoming wealthier, leaving the US and the EU poorer and stuck with a fractured market where half the world has been sanctioned—leaving them with no way to fulfill their own domestic needs—it looks like China will surpass the combined output of the EU, the US, and Russia next year. In our desperate attempt to stop something, our mindless politicians implemented sanctions that effectively granted China and Russia total independence and unchecked growth... but no, it isn't that the idiots in Brussels and Washington are incompetent, it's all Russia's fault. Do these dim-witted media outlets truly believe the public is that incredibly stupid? These articles and statements are written at the intellectual level of a complete moron.

😁😁

And you, Nathan Evans78, you're just as persistent as you are brainless... and man, that is a lot to handle....🤣

(Weren't you the one claiming India's PPP was higher than Germany's? Or was that some other clone?)

Whatever—props to you for being stubborn... there are plenty of idiots on this forum, so I guess you've got plenty of material to write about...😒

rowdymaker17's logic...
The sanctions against Russia are actually making them stronger, yet the fools over there are begging for them to be lifted.....
It was the Ukrainians who mined Mariupol.... total inside job.....
The purchasing power of Russians and Germans is basically identical.... at least for a few more days until Germany collapses....
Putin is just playing a 17.5D game of chess.....

Brenda Murphy3 said:😁😁

And you, Nathan Evans78, you're just as persistent as you are brainless... and man, that is a lot to handle....🤣

(Weren't you the one claiming India's PPP was higher than Germany's? Or was that some other clone?)

Whatever—props to you for being stubborn... there are plenty of idiots on this forum, so I guess you've got plenty of material to write about...😒

Yeah, yeah, that’s him right there. I mean, sometimes you gotta wonder if a guy is just being a total troll, if he's actually lost his mind, or if he's just messing with everyone so well that you can't even tell where the sarcasm ends and the actual opinion begins. That whole bit about India and Russia's GDP implying we're all basically living in poverty compared to them... man, that was gold. 😁 Honestly, I haven't read anything quite that hilariously stupid in a long time.

"Quote:"

Brenda Murphy3 said:Fine, let's just give Putin a free pass while he goes over there to Ukraine and burns everything down, kills people, and does whatever the hell he wants... all just so the media doesn't start whining about their gas bills getting too high. 😵🤦 Look, honestly? We couldn't care less about your damn gas bill, you feel me?

Look, if things actually get critical or hit a breaking point—fine, then we’ll sit down, have a serious talk, and figure something out (and don't worry, Putin will definitely be paying attention to that...). But right now? We aren't even anywhere near that level. Honestly, your whining about gas bills while some little fascist is busy leveling entire cities is just... well, it's disgusting, to say the least. Don't sweat it too much; the US is a pretty decent social safety net kind of place. If you're seriously worried about freezing to death, maybe we can organize a charity drive here on the forum just for you.😁.
And until then—honestly, who cares about that damn gas bill of yours anyway...🍿

I have absolutely nothing to offer Putin or Zelenskyy. Honestly, I couldn't care less—it's all the same to me as the conflict in Yemen. I'm just not wired to get worked up over propaganda; I don't waste my time reading that garbage, and frankly, I don't give a damn about everyone else's interests. You get me?

Interesting breakdown here from a Swedish economist who used to advise the Russian government—"Large parts of production will be halted"

People keep pushing this constant doom & gloom narrative about the West, acting like everyone’s about to starve, but honestly, I don't see it playing out in real life at all.
I mean, look at it—even with people feeling the pinch, Americans are still blowing money on vacations, support for Ukraine remains incredibly high, and you see folks donating tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to help out over there. It’s not like we’re seeing massive protests in major US cities because everyone's suddenly starving or their quality of life has completely cratered.
Is a downturn coming?Yeah, definitely.But I think we're underestimating what that actually looks like. We aren't talking about total collapse; we're talking about someone deciding not to upgrade to the newest iPhone this year, or maybe cutting down from four streaming services to three. Plus, I really think people are underselling how much the Russian invasion rattled the average citizen—it shifted our whole threshold for what we're willing to tolerate.

hollowdriver13 said:People keep pushing this constant doom & gloom narrative about the West, acting like everyone’s about to starve, but honestly, I don't see it playing out in real life at all.
I mean, look at it—even with people feeling the pinch, Americans are still blowing money on vacations, support for Ukraine remains incredibly high, and you see folks donating tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to help out over there. It’s not like we’re seeing massive protests in major US cities because everyone's suddenly starving or their quality of life has completely cratered.
Is a downturn coming?Yeah, definitely.But I think we're underestimating what that actually looks like. We aren't talking about total collapse; we're talking about someone deciding not to upgrade to the newest iPhone this year, or maybe cutting down from four streaming services to three. Plus, I really think people are underselling how much the Russian invasion rattled the average citizen—it shifted our whole threshold for what we're willing to tolerate.

Look, everyone’s situation is different, but I can speak for myself and my circle here—I actually managed to stack up a decent chunk of change during those two years of lockdowns. Seriously, for almost two years, I wasn't spending a dime on anything beyond the absolute essentials—you know, food, rent, the usual boring stuff. So yeah, the savings account definitely grew. Fast forward to now? It's total chaos. Airports are absolutely slammed, and they’re canceling hundreds of flights because there just aren't enough staff to handle it, even though everyone is suddenly dying to travel again. Honestly, if you're someone who actually wants to work, you can find a job in a heartbeat right now. It might get a little rough once winter hits, but from where I'm sitting, it feels like people are blowing through their cash faster than ever before.