Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Why the Sanctions Against Russia Must Be Opposed

The Western sanctions against Russia seem to shock very few Westerns. Yet, for several reasons, these sanctions should at least be the subject of lively debate in Western societies.

Firstly, these sanctions are illegal from the standpoint of international law (only the Security Council can approve economic sanctions, according to Article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations). They could legitimately be considered an act of war by Russia, with all the terrifying consequences that such an interpretation could have. Thus, regardless whether Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is considered a violation of international law, such an economic war waged by the West in Russia cannot be justified on the part of nations that do not have defense agreements with Ukraine and which are not at war with Russia. Two wrongs don't make a right.