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Quiz Assignment 2 – Sanctions on Russia

Arnav Saini

Computer Programming (CMPG), Georgian College

GNED 2011: Canada and World Affairs

Sean O’Hara

November 15, 2023

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Video Summary

The video on the topic “How EU sanctions against Russia are failing” basically shows

us that how dual-use goods with military applications are making their way into Russia.

These goods include cars, weapons, and replacement parts for associated businesses in

addition to microelectronics. We see by the findings of the reports from DW reporters who

went to Georgia, a Western-oriented nation that formally backs the sanctions, who are close

neighbours of Russia and carrying with them all the associated geopolitical and economic

responsibilities. We see that the increase in German exports to the neighbouring countries of

Russia like Georgia, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan have risen in the first quarter of 2023. The

thing that I found interesting is how fast and effectively Russia can work around the

thousands of sanctions imposed by the EU and the US. The workaround on how people could

buy cars in Georgia and take them to Russia through Kyrgyzstan and or Armenia or how

trucks enter Russian border with both EU and Russian plates on one vehicle waiting for days

with who knows what goods. Something I did not know that how Petroleum products are

brought into the ports of Georgia and then their documents are altered to sell the products to

third countries. At the end we see that if Georgia wants to join EU, then it would have to take

the sanctions by the western countries on Russia seriously.

Article Summary

In the article “Are the economic sanctions against Russia actually working?” we see

concerns regarding the efficacy of the initial restrictions led to the European Union's 11th

round of sanctions against Russia, which targets businesses in other countries that are

allegedly evading the previous ones (Nozhin & Bellamy, 2023). With more than 13,000

sanctions against Russia, more than those imposed on Iran, Syria, North Korea, and Cuba
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combined, economic specialists, such as Alexandra Prokopenko, characterize the situation as

an unprecedented economic experiment (Prokopenko, 2023). Increased monitoring and

engagement with businesses are part of the efforts to stop circumvention. The Russian

economy showed resiliency in the short run, contracting by just 2.1% last year and growing

by 0.7% in 2023, but the long-term effects are cause for alarm. Russian oil exports have

significantly decreased because of the "disconnecting" of Europe from Russia, suggesting

possible economic consequences (Nozhin & Bellamy, 2023). There are fears that successful

circumvention could lead to a concentration of resources in the military sector, causing long-

term damage to the Russian economy (Prokopenko, 2023).

China's involvement complicates matters because the EU sanctions list includes

Chinese enterprises, which contributes to further tensions between Europe and China

(Prokopenko, 2023). While conflict between Europe and China is considered as less likely

due to strong economic links, fears about China's support for Russia and possible cooperation

in sanctions evasion remain.

The article briefly mentions Russia's "pivot to the South," which aims to deepen

connections with Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The failure of nations in the Global South

to denounce Russia politically and join sanctions may have an impact on their effectiveness,

potentially leading to sanctions being extended to more critical third countries (Prokopenko,

2023).

At last, according to me “The Purpose of Sanctions” imposed by the EU and the US

on Russia made thousands of companies to move out of Russia which affected Russia’s

economy and military making them take a hit due to increase in prices of almost everything

that Russia used to imports may it be for its residents or its military equipment, making it

suffer from inflation and supply shortages eventually to try to destabilize the government.
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References

1. International Relations E-IR Student Textbook

2. DW Documentary. (2023, July). How EU sanctions against Russia are failing.

YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7yofon22AM

3. Nozhin, V., & Bellamy, D. (2023, June 28). Are the economic sanctions against

Russia actually working? EuroNews.

4. Georgian College Blackboard