I am not debating the sanctions but wanted to see if anyone has any ideas about how to pay them from the Western world? Preferably a long term option in case the payment sanctions escalate further.
I hope this does not cause political debate as we all are completely against the war. Thanks.
The point is no about the persons you want to pay, but because you send dollars to a country that needs these dollars to sustain its war to Ukraine.
Of course, the EU sends €1B ... per day to Russia to pay for its petroleum and natural gas. As if we could not drastically cut our energy use if we wanted to.
Many will protest that it is indeed impossible but Covid has shown that confining whole countries for three weeks is possible ; it has also shown that the EU could find €1 trillion to save its economy - a sum that was said to be impossible to find to save the planet from climate dereliction and collapse of biodiversity.
If the EU stopped suddenly paying Russia, the war in Ukraine would be shortened for certain. That would imply of course to share the available energy between the EU countries ; our politicians are really fierce on helping Ukraine - except if it impacts our economies. I'm ashamed as an European, really.
NB: yes, I do realize the EU level of dependency towards Russia. Yes, that would be difficult. But that's the price to show the world that we are really to fight for democracy.
Putin thought he could invade Ukraine because of his perception of our lack of will to fight for democracy, precisely. He was not wrong: it's only the Ukrainians' incredible spirit of resistance that forced the West to really oppose it with supplies of weapons and sanctions. Had the Ukrainians not resisted that well, it would have been like Crimea.
China is watching. We must do more in the EU and close all the pipelines from Russia.
Hope it will help and your team will be fine!