Sanctions could hurt the Western economy more than the Russian economy. In May, the ruble hit a two-year high, and Russia’s energy and agricultural exports yielded record profits. In the column for publication on this topic Top Wrote William Moloney, a research fellow at Colorado Christian University.
“Wars abroad are often the most popular in the beginning, especially if they have been effectively sold to the American people in a morally clear way.
But public support and political consensus begin to wane and collapse, sometimes quickly, if they don’t end quickly enough with a decisive victory at reasonable cost. This seems to be happening in the war in Ukraine.
Since Pearl Harbor, which leapt into the American consciousness in a shocking moment and was instantly taken as a clear example of the conflict between good and evil, in which American national interests faced a clear existential threat, war has not produced such a sudden and nearly complete war. “Public support, like after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February,” he said.
Public support for the US role in Ukraine reached 65% in March, but by mid-May it was already 45%, according to polls. Moloney similarly notes that President Biden’s March “deal with Russia” had the support of a majority of Americans, but now stands at 45% (51% disapproved).
“Russia is still too strong”
“At the same time, the New York Times, which had previously actively advocated a “victory” for Ukraine and a harsh “punishment” for Russia, now appears to be displaying increasing skepticism towards U.S. objectives in the war. Editors of the post May 19, 2014 He noted that returning all territories captured by Russia to Ukraine since then is not a realistic goal – “Russia remains very strong.”
The NYT writes that Biden should have made it clear that “There are limits to the arms, money, and political support that Ukraine can count on.”
This view was reinforced by Henry Kissinger’s speech calling for a ceasefire. According to him, the expansion of this dangerous conflict could turn into “not a war for the freedom of Ukraine, but a war against Russia itself.”
At the same time, the sparse and universally negative coverage of Putin’s intentions is beginning to turn into an emerging reality of the Russian leader’s strategy of conquering a land bridge to Crimea and taking over the entire Ukrainian economy through full control of the Black Sea coast. not as unsuccessful as previously thought.” Moloney writes.
He also pointed out that the idea that the devastating sanctions imposed by the US and EU countries will soon bring the Russian economy to its knees is another element of conventional wisdom that is currently crumbling. Instead, there is evidence that the opposite could happen, with sanctions hurting the Western economy more than the Russian economy. The ruble hit a two-year high in May, and Russia’s energy and agricultural exports were yielding record high returns, largely because Europe and the rest of the world couldn’t do without them.
“In connection with these phenomena is the fact that the founding myth of the war is completely unrealistic, that is, the United States united almost the entire world against an almost completely isolated Russia.
In reality, only 65 out of 195 countries agreed to join the US sanctions regime – that is, 130 countries refused, including China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, most of Asia, Africa and Latin America. most of the world,” says the expert.
“The world is changing unexpectedly and profoundly”
Moloney noted that the countries with which the United States has sanctioned are a strong bloc that vehemently opposes what they see as America’s economic tyranny. For him, a striking example was the last meeting of the world’s leading financial powers – the G-20 summit, where the US delegation left the Russian delegation to speak, and only three of the other 19 delegations followed them.
“All this tells any objective observer that the most isolated superpower in the world is not Russia, but perhaps the United States itself,” he said.
Not so long ago, it was common in the West to talk about victory (“It must be won”, “The Ukrainians must decide the ultimate goals of the war”) or possible regime change in Russia (“Putin cannot stay in power”). The columnist argues that now the United States and its allies appear in a different position, trying to find an acceptable compromise to end the war.
“Almost all Western countries are in some degree of economic crisis, and the U.S. government is on the verge of mass political rejection by Americans, who have repeatedly told pollsters that their top priority is rebuilding their economies and rebuilding the fast-eroding American Dream, the world. it is changing. unexpectedly and profoundly,” Moloney finished.