Western Sanctions and Their Impact on Russia

Abstract

The article considers the anti-Russian sanctions introduced by the US by a number of Western states. In 2014, after the reunification of the Crimea with Russia, and in connection with the assistance of our country to compatriots in the southeast of Ukraine, a number of Western states have introduced quite severe economic and political measures (sanctions) in order force change the chosen policy of Russia. The initiators of the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions were the United States and the leading states of the European Union. Among the "sanctioners" were also Australia, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Japan and other states. In their view, the reunification of Russia and the Crimean Republic, formerly part of Ukraine, was illegal, as it violated the universally recognized borders and territorial integrity of a sovereign state, a member of the UN Security Council. The authors not only describe in sufficient detail the phased introduction of anti-Russian sanctions, but also make a well-founded conclusion that the state policy of counteraction to Western sanctions, conducted in 2014-2016, gave its positive results in both political and economic spheres. In particular, it accelerated the implementation of programs to overcome import dependence in a number of areas of the economy, including in industry and agroindustrial complex of our country. It is summarized that, despite numerous difficulties, the state policy of counteracting Western sanctions played a positive role in Russia's socio-political and economic development. Keywords—anti-Russian sanctions; state policy; counteraction to Western sanctions