"This Could Be The Most Serious Leverage Against Putin"
- 15.08.2025, 13:28
The West's response must be powerful.
Russia's economy is cracking at the seams: falling oil revenues, rising debts, risk of a banking crisis.
Could Trump use Russia's economic problems as the main leverage against Putin at the Alaska summit? The website Charter97.org talked to Slovak political scientist and president of the Institute of Social Problems (IVO) (Bratislava) Grigory Mesejnikov about this :
- Of course he can. But the question is whether he is willing to do so. His intentions depend on whether he will actually try to pressure Russia. While economic pressure is important - and we'll probably touch on other forms of it as well - I think the key to ending the war is unequivocal support for Ukraine and supplying arms that can at least stop Putin. And, of course, the imposition of tough economic sanctions. Such sanctions could be the most serious of all possible levers of pressure on Russia.
The EU is more enthusiastic about this than the current US. The 18th package of sanctions was (adopted https://charter97.org/ru/news/2025/8/6/651048/). Therefore, economic pressure must be combined with military aid to Ukraine, and the West's willingness to show resolve and strengthen its own military capabilities. The West should not only support Ukraine, but also arm itself, so that the Kremlin has no doubt: if Russia goes beyond the war against Ukraine and decides to attack the West - overtly, covertly or by hybrid methods - the response will be powerful.
- What other weaknesses of the Kremlin can the White House exploit besides the economy?"
- Politically, Russia is virtually isolated in the environment that was important to it before 2014. Once it was a member of the G8, maintained normal relations with Western countries and aspired to be part of the civilized world. Now Russia is politically, diplomatically, in sports, culture and other spheres - in a state of international isolation.
If Trump wanted to really put pressure on the Kremlin, he would increase the regime of diplomatic and political isolation of Russia. But judging by his concrete steps, this does not appear to be the case. His ultimatums with clear deadlines have essentially gone into the sand. The main thing is large-scale sanctions and military aid to Ukraine, including arms supplies, which would allow it not only to defend itself, but also to deal painful blows to Russia if it continues its aggression.
Unfortunately, this is not yet in place. And to continue the topic - Ukraine should be allowed to use Western weapons to strike at Russian territory. There are separate protocols in place now, but they are clearly insufficient.