Sanctions on Russia

Chloe Nguyen21 said:Things went pretty well for Putin when he first took over, but then, maybe because of old age, the guy started thinking he was some kind of king. That’s really the core issue right there.
Capital and business move to where things are stable. Russia isn't going to be that place for at least the next 50 years, or so I figure. I mean, what kind of idiot would invest there? It feels like we're looking at a Venezuelan situation... a country loaded with energy resources while most people struggle through poverty.
The West will find a way to replace Russian energy pretty easily. It'll probably be sorted out by next year. Meanwhile, it'll take Russia years to even build out a gas network toward Asia, where they'll end up selling gas at discounted rates, just like how they're doing with oil now.
You didn't really answer the question of who in the West is going to go hungry without Russia... let me help you out... nobody. Specifically here in the States, in my field (mechanical engineering), this year has been a record-breaker. My kids say the same thing about their jobs in IT and Pharmacy; everyone in the US and the rest of the European Union is working themselves to the bone. The Russian economy is basically a dwarf that nobody is going to miss. I guess the Germans will complain for another six months or so, and then that'll be that.

Listening to those Putinophiles, you'd think we were dependent on food and fuel donations from the USSR during the Cold War and that we all collapsed because they stopped funding us.

Russia essentially hasn't truly existed as a sovereign entity since 1917; what we see today is really just the lingering shadow of the Soviet Union or that old communist framework.

Even though Germany didn't technically emerge as the victor of the Great War, isn't it true that they played a massive role in destabilizing and weakening Russia during World War I?

How is it that Americans and Englishmen stepped in to support the Russians and the Soviets on so many occasions, yet today they look upon them with nothing but contempt because of Ukraine?

In my view, Russia only exists on paper because no one ever actually managed to defeat the Soviets.

The situation with Poland and Ukraine serves as a perfect analogy for how quickly the West can drive a knife into your back if they decide you’re simply too insignificant to matter.

Russians found a loophole in a neighboring country, while the Finns are just sitting around waiting for Prime Minister Marin to get back from vacation: ‘Stop their shopping spree!’

Carl Lee27 said:So, those folks over at Yale are out here claiming that the Russian economy is, if I may be blunt, completely and utterly trashed because of all these sanctions. Now, it really makes you wonder who you're supposed to take at their word: should we listen to the "experts" and economists who make this their entire career, or should we trust the people on the street who seem to know that these sanctions aren't actually doing much to Russia—and even if they are, they're mostly just hitting the West where it hurts?
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....act_id=4167193

Try playing a game with actual players for once. When you talk to Russians, you steer clear of politics. An average Russian isn't going to spout political nonsense, especially since they have no clue who's on the other end of the line, but they will tell you the truth about the economy. For the first month, everyone was saying grocery stores were running empty, but that sorted itself out within thirty days. As for prices? Sure, they’re up, but nothing crazy compared to the rest of the world.
Of course, they want to know what we think of them. My answer stays the same: we aren't talking politics. We're talking economics.

Chloe Nguyen21 said:Things went pretty well for Putin when he first took over, but then, maybe because of old age, the guy started thinking he was some kind of king. That’s really the core issue right there.
Capital and business move to where things are stable. Russia isn't going to be that place for at least the next 50 years, or so I figure. I mean, what kind of idiot would invest there? It feels like we're looking at a Venezuelan situation... a country loaded with energy resources while most people struggle through poverty.
The West will find a way to replace Russian energy pretty easily. It'll probably be sorted out by next year. Meanwhile, it'll take Russia years to even build out a gas network toward Asia, where they'll end up selling gas at discounted rates, just like how they're doing with oil now.
You didn't really answer the question of who in the West is going to go hungry without Russia... let me help you out... nobody. Specifically here in the States, in my field (mechanical engineering), this year has been a record-breaker. My kids say the same thing about their jobs in IT and Pharmacy; everyone in the US and the rest of the European Union is working themselves to the bone. The Russian economy is basically a dwarf that nobody is going to miss. I guess the Germans will complain for another six months or so, and then that'll be that.

It’s such a shame this garbage service doesn't have a "remind me in..." feature. ☕

rowdyraven112 said:Try playing a game with actual players for once. When you talk to Russians, you steer clear of politics. An average Russian isn't going to spout political nonsense, especially since they have no clue who's on the other end of the line, but they will tell you the truth about the economy. For the first month, everyone was saying grocery stores were running empty, but that sorted itself out within thirty days. As for prices? Sure, they’re up, but nothing crazy compared to the rest of the world.
Of course, they want to know what we think of them. My answer stays the same: we aren't talking politics. We're talking economics.

It’s funny how you guys constantly chime in with these "expert" takes on economics when, frankly, you barely have a clue what you're talking about. I’m pretty damn sure you’ve already tripped over the most basic concepts—like confusing a country's public debt with its external debt—and I bet you aren't even aware that those numbers aren't even precise totals to begin with.

EDIT: yep

The G7—that powerhouse group of the world's top economies—is currently weighing a total blockade on the transport of Russian oil to choke off Moscow's revenue streams following their invasion of Ukraine—unless, of course, they implement a strict price cap.

Just as a refresher, the G7 consists of the US, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan.

In a recent public briefing, G7 ministers indicated they are exploring "a comprehensive ban on all services facilitating the global maritime transport of Russian crude oil and petroleum products—except in instances where the oil is purchased at a price agreed upon through consultations with international partners, or even lower."

"While evaluating this and other avenues, we will also look into additional price mitigation strategies alongside these restrictive measures; our goal is to ensure that the most vulnerable nations maintain access to energy markets, including the Russian supply," the statement noted.

Terry Hernandez10 said:The G7—that powerhouse group of the world's top economies—is currently weighing a total blockade on the transport of Russian oil to choke off Moscow's revenue streams following their invasion of Ukraine—unless, of course, they implement a strict price cap.

Just as a refresher, the G7 consists of the US, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan.

In a recent public briefing, G7 ministers indicated they are exploring "a comprehensive ban on all services facilitating the global maritime transport of Russian crude oil and petroleum products—except in instances where the oil is purchased at a price agreed upon through consultations with international partners, or even lower."

"While evaluating this and other avenues, we will also look into additional price mitigation strategies alongside these restrictive measures; our goal is to ensure that the most vulnerable nations maintain access to energy markets, including the Russian supply," the statement noted.

Feels like old news to me. One guy on the forum argued that a maritime blockade is basically an act of war, and I couldn't agree more. Even now, Russian oil finds its way to end users thanks to war profiteers running OPEC nations. Despite the sanctions, European products still find a path to Russia through these profiteers. Apparently, war profiteering doesn't bother anyone particularly much. ☕.

Russia has always been a playground for criminals.
The most elite hackers out there? They're almost certainly Russian.
The government uses incredibly shady—honestly, borderline scavenger-like—tactics just to get what they want.
You see these kinds of scenarios playing out all over Africa, South America, and beyond...

The European Union is easing up on those sanctions against Russia, though they aren't exactly shouting their decision from the rooftops

Mark Carter14 said:The European Union is easing up on those sanctions against Russia, though they aren't exactly shouting their decision from the rooftops

What a massive spin job, right? 🙏

Lifting certain restrictions on grain and fertilizers is basically just part of the deal to get those Ukrainian grain exports moving again. As for "easing" the oil sanctions? That’s really just unfreezing the insurance coverage for tankers carrying Russian oil to third-party nations. It’s all being done specifically to dodge the propaganda claims that the EU and the US are crushing developing nations by keeping sanctions on Russia.

Following the exit of Coca-Cola's distributors, the Russian soda lineup is being rebranded as Dr Pepper; there are also plans to rename Fanta and Schweppes, while Sprite will likely be pulled from shelves for a while. This strategic pivot comes directly from the beverage manufacturer Multon (a subsidiary of the Russian Coca-Cola entity), according to reports from Mash.

The rollout of these new products is slated for this coming fall.
In addition to Dr Pepper, the updated collection will feature Fanta Orange (formerly Fanta), Rich Tonic (replacing Schweppes), alongside several local flavors such as Dushes, Cherry, Lemonade, Mango, and Sib Travy.



Back in mid-June, it was announced that Coca-Cola HBC, the distributor for Coca-Cola in Russia, would be pulling out of the country. Earlier in May, Coca-Cola COO James Quincey noted that the company's operations in Russia could "completely vanish in an instant" if the conflict in Ukraine persists.
https://theins.ru/news/253773

The Germans are trying to force their way into getting that turbine back for NS1, even though the other side is warning them they’re straight-up violating the energy sanctions package😬

Donna Harris11 said:The Germans are trying to force their way into getting that turbine back for NS1, even though the other side is warning them they’re straight-up violating the energy sanctions package😬

Let’s get one thing straight: if we’re talking about who is actually out there committing acts of aggression, it’s the Russians. Period.

That radioactive propaganda coming out of the Kremlin from Putin is getting more absurd by the second. Now he’s claiming there’s no gas simply because we’re missing a turbine? Give me a break! It’s clearly just a desperate attempt to shift the blame. And what do we see in response? The German government, caught up in their own internal media circus, actually sent the Chancellor out yesterday just to pose for photos next to a turbine. They even had the nerve to add a little note claiming that in today's modern world, such a turbine could be delivered incredibly fast—provided, of course, that the "right" country actually asks for it. Is this supposed to be serious political communication or just a choreographed photo op to distract from their own failures? How much longer are we expected to swallow these blatant excuses?

The message was exactly what you’d expect from a dictator sitting in the Kremlin—just the usual routine of manipulation and outright lies. He’s out there spinning this narrative that they are somehow the ones at fault for the breach of gas delivery contracts, all to shift the blame. It’s a transparent attempt to deflect, and his logic is as flawed as it is dishonest. According to him, we need to stop buying gas from Russia immediately, but let's be real: isn't this just another layer of psychological warfare? How much longer are we expected to swallow these excuses when the deception is so blatant?

Let’s be real: the Chancellor’s little photo op posing next to that wind turbine wasn't just a coincidence. It happened on the exact same day that the former Chancellor, Schröder—that absolute sympathizer who loves nothing more than playing into Russian propaganda—dropped his latest interview. And what did he do? He sat there and practically begged for the opening of NS2. Is anyone actually buying this carefully timed political theater?

They jumped on him with an immediate response, claiming that the issue wasn't actually about delivery capacity at all—it was entirely about the carrier! Can you believe the audacity? They're basically shifting the blame onto the shipping company to dodge any real accountability.

Essentially, Putin wanted to use Schröder as a walking piece of propaganda, but it clearly backfired on him. It’s almost comical how he tried to turn the former Chancellor into a mouthpiece for his own agenda, only to have the whole thing blow up in his face. Isn't it ironic when you try to weaponize someone's reputation just to have it used against you? He thought he was playing a masterstroke, but instead, he just handed his critics more ammunition.

I am absolutely losing my mind over this! How can anyone sit there and act like this isn't happening right in front of our eyes? It’s one thing to be skeptical, but we are talking about blatant, undeniable reality here. Are we really just going to shrug our shoulders and pretend everything is fine while the entire foundation shifts beneath us? It's infuriating! I feel like I'm shouting into a void sometimes, trying to point out the obvious patterns that everyone else seems determined to ignore. Is it incompetence, or is it something much more calculated? Honestly, at this point, I'm starting to wonder if anyone is actually paying attention at all!

dustyowl29 said:Russia has always been a playground for criminals.
The most elite hackers out there? They're almost certainly Russian.
The government uses incredibly shady—honestly, borderline scavenger-like—tactics just to get what they want.
You see these kinds of scenarios playing out all over Africa, South America, and beyond...

So what? Every serious security agency has them. You think the DOJ and Olaf don't have them here in the States? They do, they just aren't as capable as the Russians. The DOJ and Olaf use them to break into the encrypted computers of our own suspected ministers. Others in different countries use them to cause damage or try to grab valuable data. The reality is you only hear about how Western institutions were attacked, but what slips under your radar is that Western countries are doing the exact same thing to Russia. ☕

Bryan Booth82 said:Let’s get one thing straight: if we’re talking about who is actually out there committing acts of aggression, it’s the Russians. Period.

That radioactive propaganda coming out of the Kremlin from Putin is getting more absurd by the second. Now he’s claiming there’s no gas simply because we’re missing a turbine? Give me a break! It’s clearly just a desperate attempt to shift the blame. And what do we see in response? The German government, caught up in their own internal media circus, actually sent the Chancellor out yesterday just to pose for photos next to a turbine. They even had the nerve to add a little note claiming that in today's modern world, such a turbine could be delivered incredibly fast—provided, of course, that the "right" country actually asks for it. Is this supposed to be serious political communication or just a choreographed photo op to distract from their own failures? How much longer are we expected to swallow these blatant excuses?

The message was exactly what you’d expect from a dictator sitting in the Kremlin—just the usual routine of manipulation and outright lies. He’s out there spinning this narrative that they are somehow the ones at fault for the breach of gas delivery contracts, all to shift the blame. It’s a transparent attempt to deflect, and his logic is as flawed as it is dishonest. According to him, we need to stop buying gas from Russia immediately, but let's be real: isn't this just another layer of psychological warfare? How much longer are we expected to swallow these excuses when the deception is so blatant?

Let’s be real: the Chancellor’s little photo op posing next to that wind turbine wasn't just a coincidence. It happened on the exact same day that the former Chancellor, Schröder—that absolute sympathizer who loves nothing more than playing into Russian propaganda—dropped his latest interview. And what did he do? He sat there and practically begged for the opening of NS2. Is anyone actually buying this carefully timed political theater?

They jumped on him with an immediate response, claiming that the issue wasn't actually about delivery capacity at all—it was entirely about the carrier! Can you believe the audacity? They're basically shifting the blame onto the shipping company to dodge any real accountability.

Essentially, Putin wanted to use Schröder as a walking piece of propaganda, but it clearly backfired on him. It’s almost comical how he tried to turn the former Chancellor into a mouthpiece for his own agenda, only to have the whole thing blow up in his face. Isn't it ironic when you try to weaponize someone's reputation just to have it used against you? He thought he was playing a masterstroke, but instead, he just handed his critics more ammunition.

I am absolutely losing my mind over this! How can anyone sit there and act like this isn't happening right in front of our eyes? It’s one thing to be skeptical, but we are talking about blatant, undeniable reality here. Are we really just going to shrug our shoulders and pretend everything is fine while the entire foundation shifts beneath us? It's infuriating! I feel like I'm shouting into a void sometimes, trying to point out the obvious patterns that everyone else seems determined to ignore. Is it incompetence, or is it something much more calculated? Honestly, at this point, I'm starting to wonder if anyone is actually paying attention at all!

What's the issue? It seems people forget we're in a proxy war between NATO and Russia. In an environment like this, everyone makes propaganda moves. You don't care about proactive propaganda involving posing by a turbine, but you do care about the other side's proactive propaganda... I don't see a problem with the Germans loading that turbine onto a ship and sending it straight toward Russia. Do I really need to explain how that works? ☕
Then it's on the Russians to deal with that mess... Russophiles call it a propaganda win for Putin, while Biden supporters call it a German victory... in the end, both sides are full of it, and the ones paying the price will be the people relying on the gas for heat. ☕

rowdyraven112 said:So what? Every serious security agency has them. You think the DOJ and Olaf don't have them here in the States? They do, they just aren't as capable as the Russians. The DOJ and Olaf use them to break into the encrypted computers of our own suspected ministers. Others in different countries use them to cause damage or try to grab valuable data. The reality is you only hear about how Western institutions were attacked, but what slips under your radar is that Western countries are doing the exact same thing to Russia. ☕

What's the issue? It seems people forget we're in a proxy war between NATO and Russia. In an environment like this, everyone makes propaganda moves. You don't care about proactive propaganda involving posing by a turbine, but you do care about the other side's proactive propaganda... I don't see a problem with the Germans loading that turbine onto a ship and sending it straight toward Russia. Do I really need to explain how that works? ☕
Then it's on the Russians to deal with that mess... Russophiles call it a propaganda win for Putin, while Biden supporters call it a German victory... in the end, both sides are full of it, and the ones paying the price will be the people relying on the gas for heat. ☕

Sure, in war and in love, anything goes.
You fight propaganda with propaganda. In the end, we’re all going to be staring at much higher utility bills this winter, and we'll spend next year trying to ensure it doesn't happen again—or at least doesn't happen as badly.
The German government's propaganda line is basically: "Gas is expensive and our previous supplier is unreliable, so we need to slash consumption immediately and find someone else to fill the gap."

Meanwhile, the Russian propaganda is: "We would gladly sell you gas, but your own politicians are the ones screwing you over."

I don't know, but for the few people who fall for that second narrative, there isn't much anyone can do to help them.

In the end, everyone will just get used to the idea that gas isn't an option—which is exactly the goal of the German propaganda—while the Russians will end up selling less gas. Even if that isn't their primary objective, their propaganda will frame it as a massive victory.
Best regards,

Bryan Booth82 said:Let’s get one thing straight: if we’re talking about who is actually out there committing acts of aggression, it’s the Russians. Period.

That radioactive propaganda coming out of the Kremlin from Putin is getting more absurd by the second. Now he’s claiming there’s no gas simply because we’re missing a turbine? Give me a break! It’s clearly just a desperate attempt to shift the blame. And what do we see in response? The German government, caught up in their own internal media circus, actually sent the Chancellor out yesterday just to pose for photos next to a turbine. They even had the nerve to add a little note claiming that in today's modern world, such a turbine could be delivered incredibly fast—provided, of course, that the "right" country actually asks for it. Is this supposed to be serious political communication or just a choreographed photo op to distract from their own failures? How much longer are we expected to swallow these blatant excuses?

The message was exactly what you’d expect from a dictator sitting in the Kremlin—just the usual routine of manipulation and outright lies. He’s out there spinning this narrative that they are somehow the ones at fault for the breach of gas delivery contracts, all to shift the blame. It’s a transparent attempt to deflect, and his logic is as flawed as it is dishonest. According to him, we need to stop buying gas from Russia immediately, but let's be real: isn't this just another layer of psychological warfare? How much longer are we expected to swallow these excuses when the deception is so blatant?

Let’s be real: the Chancellor’s little photo op posing next to that wind turbine wasn't just a coincidence. It happened on the exact same day that the former Chancellor, Schröder—that absolute sympathizer who loves nothing more than playing into Russian propaganda—dropped his latest interview. And what did he do? He sat there and practically begged for the opening of NS2. Is anyone actually buying this carefully timed political theater?

They jumped on him with an immediate response, claiming that the issue wasn't actually about delivery capacity at all—it was entirely about the carrier! Can you believe the audacity? They're basically shifting the blame onto the shipping company to dodge any real accountability.

Essentially, Putin wanted to use Schröder as a walking piece of propaganda, but it clearly backfired on him. It’s almost comical how he tried to turn the former Chancellor into a mouthpiece for his own agenda, only to have the whole thing blow up in his face. Isn't it ironic when you try to weaponize someone's reputation just to have it used against you? He thought he was playing a masterstroke, but instead, he just handed his critics more ammunition.

I am absolutely losing my mind over this! How can anyone sit there and act like this isn't happening right in front of our eyes? It’s one thing to be skeptical, but we are talking about blatant, undeniable reality here. Are we really just going to shrug our shoulders and pretend everything is fine while the entire foundation shifts beneath us? It's infuriating! I feel like I'm shouting into a void sometimes, trying to point out the obvious patterns that everyone else seems determined to ignore. Is it incompetence, or is it something much more calculated? Honestly, at this point, I'm starting to wonder if anyone is actually paying attention at all!

Remind us again whose words those were: "that will ruin Russia"?

Donna Harris11 said:Remind us again whose words those were: "that will ruin Russia"?

My😁>
Russia is essentially tearing itself apart, and honestly, that’s the best part of this whole mess.
The West is just going to provide a little nudge here and there, just to make sure the process accelerates.
Best regards,

rowdyraven112 said:So what? Every serious security agency has them. You think the DOJ and Olaf don't have them here in the States? They do, they just aren't as capable as the Russians. The DOJ and Olaf use them to break into the encrypted computers of our own suspected ministers. Others in different countries use them to cause damage or try to grab valuable data. The reality is you only hear about how Western institutions were attacked, but what slips under your radar is that Western countries are doing the exact same thing to Russia. ☕

What's the issue? It seems people forget we're in a proxy war between NATO and Russia. In an environment like this, everyone makes propaganda moves. You don't care about proactive propaganda involving posing by a turbine, but you do care about the other side's proactive propaganda... I don't see a problem with the Germans loading that turbine onto a ship and sending it straight toward Russia. Do I really need to explain how that works? ☕
Then it's on the Russians to deal with that mess... Russophiles call it a propaganda win for Putin, while Biden supporters call it a German victory... in the end, both sides are full of it, and the ones paying the price will be the people relying on the gas for heat. ☕

Yeah, right—what other country has billionaires out there mounting underwater cable cutters onto their yachts? Maybe China...

I still dip into piracy from time to time. And you want to know who’s behind it? Russians. And the Chinese, though they're a bit more low-key about it...
So, take The Pirate Bay—most of those developers are Russian.
Instander, AeroInsta, modded Facebook, all that good stuff—the whole world of modded apps? Mostly Russian devs. There used to be some Ukrainian ones too, but they've mostly vanished now.

Even YouTube Vanced and AdBlock—the most famous ad blocker out there—was basically made in Russia. Even if the developers fled to Cyprus back in 2015 just so Putin wouldn't drag them into his cyber army.

Resurrected said:Easy to play the genius after the fact.

By its very nature, Europe has to be energy-dependent on someone—whether that’s the USA, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or Russia is just a matter of politics.
Any kind of dependency like that limits the ability to maintain hegemony. The attempt at hegemony over Russia was handled in such a complex, naive way, fueled by promises from Washington that Putin would collapse under the weight of sanctions any second now.

Now we're paying the price for that naivety.
Simply put, under the threat of those sanctions, Ukraine should have been pressured to wrap up the war instead of being coddled and fed all this nationalism. If that had happened, energy dependence wouldn't be an issue, and we'd still have cheaper fuel than our competitors in East Asia.

I'm not even advocating for a total cutoff of Russian energy. The sweet spot is having dependency spread out across multiple sources. That way, if one supplier stops being reliable, you can actually pivot and cover the gap from somewhere else without everything going sideways.