Western nations have long ignored warnings from Eastern European countries regarding the dangers posed by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. To contain the openly aggressive, dangerous, and revisionist Russia of V. Putin, a series of other tough restrictions are needed in addition to the sanctions already in place, says Edward Lucas, an analyst at the Washington-based think tank Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).
He emphasises that for a long time, Western nations were indifferent to the warnings from Eastern European countries about the true goals of the Russian regime. Although the economic sanctions currently imposed on Russia are strong, they are not a silver bullet. In his view, ten different additional restrictions are needed to contain Russia.
First, all ambassadors from Western countries (NATO, the European Union (EU), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) must be withdrawn from Moscow. Furthermore, all Russian consulates and trade missions in these countries' host nations must be closed. Minimal embassy staff is sufficient, the analyst believes.
Western electronic media regulators must completely shut down absolutely all media outlets belonging to the Kremlin regime's propaganda group RT.
An absolute visa ban must be imposed on all Russian government ministers, officials of the Russian State Duma and the Federation Council, those working in power ministries, security service personnel, as well as persons included in the so-called Navalny list used by Western nations. These same restrictions must also apply to the spouses, children, parents, and other associates of these officials.
It is also necessary to announce an extensive asset-freezing programme that would apply to all the aforementioned persons, as well as to companies connected to the Kremlin or owned by Putin and the friends associated with his regime.
These companies must be strictly prohibited from listing their securities on the London, Frankfurt, and New York stock exchanges, as well as in other Western financial centres.
Furthermore, if any law firm, bank, accounting firm, or business consultancy cooperates with these sanctioned individuals, the exact same sanctions must be applied to them.
Meanwhile, to strengthen the security of Eastern European allies, Western nations must announce sudden, unplanned exercises in the Baltic Sea and Black Sea regions.
“Finally, apologise to the Ukrainians, Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Poles, Czechs, and Slovaks, and ultimately also to the Russians, for ignoring their warnings for so many years,” concluded E. Lucas.
