Croatian president and prime minister clash over the effectiveness of sanctions on Russia
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic warned on Tuesday that the current sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine are failing to deliver the needed economic pressure and risk echoing only through European households. He suggested that Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic dislikes the critique and sometimes accuses him of following a similar line. Milanovic called Russia a ko Ukrainian aggressor, stressing that the measures in place may not achieve the strategic goals many hoped for and that the timing of any potential impact remains uncertain. He framed the situation as one where the sanctions could lose momentum before any decisive shift occurs in the conflict, leaving the European public bearing the costs while Moscow might appear insulated for the moment. Milanovic also pointed to the possibility that Russian oil and gas will remain in demand, with other global markets stepping in if European demand wanes, which complicates the intended economic leverage of these sanctions.
The Croatian president argued that the price of the conflict could eventually be borne by European consumers, through higher energy prices and broader economic strain, while Russia could adapt to the sanctions by redirecting its trade flows to other regions. He warned that such a dynamic could prolong the war and delay any meaningful political settlement, a point he believes should be seriously considered in policy decisions. In his view, the resilience of energy revenues and the willingness of other buyers to fill the gap created by Western sanctions could blunt the intended effect and shift the burden away from those who imposed the measures in the first place. He stressed the need for a more comprehensive approach that anticipates market responses and seeks alternatives to reduce Russia’s earnings from energy exports.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic later commented from Brussels that while the EU has imposed a broad package of sanctions, its effectiveness remains a matter of ongoing debate. He argued that the measures have not yet delivered the hoped-for economic strain on Russia and urged continued vigilance and coordination among EU member states. Plenkovic emphasized that any assessment of sanctions must consider both their immediate financial impact and their broader strategic influence, including diplomatic pressure, defense collaboration, and human rights considerations. The dialogue between the president and the prime minister reflects a wider European conversation about how best to deter aggression while maintaining stability at home, and it underscores the challenge of balancing moral imperatives with practical economic considerations in a complex geopolitical landscape.