EIn the year following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, it is becoming increasingly clear that Western sanctions are not incapacitating warlord Putin. At best, they act as an insidious poison.
Only seven countries outside the EU have imposed sanctions at all. This opens the door to middlemen who make money with sanctioned products.
They will also not be stopped by the “transparent end-use declarations” that German export companies are now supposed to sign for certain products.
How is a medium-sized German company supposed to ensure that its goods are not resold and ultimately fall into the wrong hands?
It is more promising to put pressure on the particularly suspicious states – Turkey, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates – with a mixture of incentives and economic threats to finally put a stop to Putin’s helpers.
Germany can do its part. It can only succeed together – and with the help of America.