Economic Sanctions and Their Impact on Russia's Foreign Policy in the Ukraine Crisis

Abstract

Initially, there was an attempt to dissuade Russia from invading Ukraine in 2022 through the imposition of sanctions. However, as these sanctions failed to achieve their intended goal, their purposes evolved. They were then redirected towards punishing Russia for its invasion, offering indirect support to Ukraine for its defence efforts, and creating conditions to compel Russia to end the ongoing war. According to statements by US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, the revised objective of the sanctions is to weaken Russia to a degree where it cannot engage in activities similar to the invasion of Ukraine. This research paper explores the connection between economic sanctions and Russia's foreign policy in the context of the Ukraine crisis. The paper aims to fill a research gap by investigating how economic sanctions, imposed by various countries and international bodies, influence Russia's actions, decisions, and strategies regarding the ongoing Ukraine crisis. Through quantitative data analysis, this paper aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics between economic sanctions and Russia's foreign policy in the Ukraine crisis. The study argues that economic sanctions have a significant impact on Russia's foreign policy in the Ukraine crisis.