ASSESSMENTS

Western Sanctions on Russia Will Remain Stable in 2020

Dec 23, 2019 | 10:00 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin at his annual press conference on Dec. 19, 2019, in Moscow.

(MIKHAIL SVETLOV/Getty Images)

Highlights

U.S. efforts to block the construction of Nord Stream 2 via sanctions can only delay, not stop, the natural gas pipeline linking Russia and Europe.
U.S. sanctions targeting countries that buy military hardware from Russia could lead to tense diplomatic standoffs, but won't significantly threaten Russia's economy.
Western sanctions on Russia won't change substantially during 2020.

While Russia has so far weathered the increasing number of sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union since its 2014 seizure of Crimea and invasion of eastern Ukraine, the West has the power to severely dim Moscow's long-term outlook. It will almost certainly refrain from doing so in 2020, however, though it might slow down one of Russia's natural gas pipeline projects and lessen its ability to sell military hardware abroad....

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