A noose for the Kremlin: The West is preparing for crippling sanctions – the last warning to Putin
16 May 10:09
Berlin issues an ultimatum to the Kremlin: either progress in resolving the war by the end of the week or large-scale sanctions that will hit the financial and energy heart of the Russian economy. For the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is setting a firm deadline for Moscow, an initiative that is drawing both support and harsh criticism. Paris and Washington are not far behind: France has openly supported the American plan to impose 500% duties on Russian oil, and the European Union has already agreed on the 17th package of sanctions. The West is approaching the point of economic strangulation of the aggressor. But isn’t it too late? Why Germany is suddenly turning to ultimatums and how China is influencing the diplomacy of war and peace – in the
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that Berlin will insist on a significant increase in sanctions against Russia if there is no progress in resolving the conflict by the end of this week. In particular, it is about possible restrictions in the financial and energy sectors. Earlier, Germany had already given Putin a deadline of May 12. However, the Russian dictator did not meet it.
Piotr Kulpa, former secretary of the Polish delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, former Polish Minister of Labor and Chairman of the Board of the Republican Club Foundation in Ukraine, commented to
“It is ineffective, it does not work, it shames Europe as a whole. Such signals are a demonstration of weakness. Putin has never believed that Europe is capable of acting on anything other than greed. It is a game of image, not of strength,” said Piotr Kulpa.
According to the politician, each new statement without concrete actions only delays real progress.
“Putin is not afraid. Firstly, because the West demonstrates inconsistency. And secondly, because the whole construction is perceived as if everything depends only on Putin. If he says tomorrow: “the war is over,” it means it is over. And if he says it in two years, it means it will be over in two years,” said Piotr Kulpa.
Polish politician Kulpa is convinced that the West’s strategy, which focuses all responsibility for ending the war on Putin’s will alone, is wrong and dangerous.
“This is a position of insanity. If Putin realized that the end of the war depends not only on him, he might think: what if I don’t agree now, and the lost chance will not happen again? But if the West is ready to stop the war solely on his terms, he will continue to fight to the last drop of blood. And it is fighting,” Kulpa emphasized.
A noose for the Kremlin: are crippling sanctions against Russia real?
Paris and Washington want to “turn off the tap” to Russian oil and strangle the aggressor’s economy. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the United States and Europe should be prepared for decisive economic measures to force Putin to stop the war against Ukraine. This includes a 500% duty on Russian oil, a sanctions plan initiated by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.
“Russia has found ways to circumvent the blockade imposed by Europe and the United States. Shutting off the tap in this way is a way to take Russia by the throat,” Barro said on French TV channel BFM-TV.
Barro is expected to meet with Senator Graham in Turkey to discuss this package of extremely tough sanctions.
On May 14, EU ambassadors agreed on the 17th sanctions package against Russia. It is to be finally approved by the Council of the European Union on May 20. The new package focuses on the Kremlin’s shadow fleet, which Russia uses to circumvent the oil embargo. Almost 200 vessels, including tankers, will be subject to sanctions.
“I welcome the agreement on our 17th package of sanctions against Russia. We continue to restrict access to military technologies. And we have added another 189 ships to the list of the “shadow fleet” to target Russia’s energy exports,” Von der Leyen said.
In addition, as the EU diplomat told Suspilne, the package includes:
- New trade restrictions for more than 30 companies involved in sanctions circumvention;
- 75 individual sanctions – against individuals and companies associated with the defense sector of the Russian Federation;
- A ban on the export of chemicals that can be used in the production of missiles;
- Restrictions on the media – a new legal framework for blocking Russian propagandists;
- Sanctions against judges and prosecutors involved in the politically motivated persecution of Navalny and Kara-Murza.
Consequences and prospects
Despite the fact that the EU has already imposed 16 rounds of restrictions since 2022, the Russian economy still remains viable thanks to sanctions circumvention schemes and support from individual countries. That is why, according to Barro, “we will have to go further.”
“We need to work on new measures that could strangle the Russian economy once and for all. I hope that Europe will be able to impose sanctions against hydrocarbons as well,” the French Foreign Minister emphasized.
Currently, the key issue is a joint and decisive position of the EU and the US. Without synchronized pressure, the Kremlin will continue to finance the war, despite diplomatic declarations.
Kyiv sent a signal of peace – Beijing responded
Ukraine has received a clear signal of support from China for the 30-day ceasefire initiative on the eve of May 9. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“We have received a signal from the Chinese side that they support the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
Indeed, Ukraine has confirmed its responsibility with concrete actions – in particular, the fact that on May 9, not a single strike was launched on the territory of the Russian Federation during military parades.
Thus, the ceasefire initiative is turning into a diplomatic play of gestures: a step by Kyiv in response to diplomatic support from Beijing. And although it is a temporary truce, the quid pro quo format could be the first step toward a broader negotiation process-if, of course, the other side is also ready to act, not just demand.
Moreover, Russia is dependent on China, says Piotr Kulpa, former secretary of the Polish delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, former Polish labor minister and chairman of the board of the Republican Club Foundation in Ukraine.
“Putin depends on China. And China is in strategic negotiations with the United States. China will not allow the war to end now if it increases the risks to Europe from Russia. Because then Europe might change its attitude towards China. Beijing does not want this. Therefore, there will be no peace or even an end to the war until an agreement is reached between China and the United States,” Kulpa emphasized.
In his opinion, future agreements on ending the war will focus on the security of not only Ukraine, but the whole of Europe.
