Sanctions by Any Other Name

The recent calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for new sanctions on Russia raise questions about the effectiveness of this strategy in resolving the conflict. As the war continues, with both sides escalating long-range strikes, one wonders if economic pressure is merely a Band-Aid solution.

A recent drone strike on a petrol station in Kyiv killed two people and hospitalized four. Such attacks are becoming increasingly common, with both sides targeting each other’s energy infrastructure. Zelensky has called for a truce covering strikes on energy targets, but it seems unlikely given the entrenched positions of both sides.

The purpose of new sanctions is unclear: to express outrage or actually stop Russia’s actions? The record suggests that economic pressure has little impact on military campaigns. Sanctions have been imposed on Russia multiple times with no apparent effect on their operations.

Zelensky’s words are telling: “Sanctions need to be imposed now,” he said, adding, “I sometimes don’t understand why decisions can’t be made quickly.” This is less a call for urgency than a lamentation of the international community’s inability to act decisively. Many in Ukraine feel their country is being held hostage by diplomatic efforts.

The fact remains that sanctions are a convenient cop-out for policymakers. They allow governments to appear tough on Russia without taking meaningful action. Yet, they do little to address conflict roots or provide relief to those affected. As Zelensky noted, “Russia knows if they strike, we’ll respond in kind.” This is not a truce but a cycle of violence showing no signs of abating.

The international community’s reliance on sanctions has created a perverse incentive structure. Russia sees new sanctions as a minor nuisance, while Ukraine must retaliate if its energy infrastructure is targeted. This tit-for-tat only escalates tensions and prolongs the conflict.

This situation bears a striking resemblance to the 1990s Balkans wars, where economic sanctions were imposed on Serbia with little apparent impact. In fact, sanctions often fueled nationalist sentiment and hardened those in power.

The answer lies not in more rhetoric from Zelensky or Trump but in actual policy changes addressing conflict roots. Until then, Ukraine’s people will remain caught in the crossfire as diplomats dither and delay. The question is no longer whether sanctions will be imposed but what they will achieve in a conflict where both sides are dug in and unwilling to budge. It’s time for the international community to rethink its strategy and come up with something more than empty words.