# Sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion\ **Created:** [February 23, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007 "2022-02-23T14:17:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/242 "2022-03-03T13:19:30Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Its a smart thing. Middle level powers should not get involved in Super power machinations unless they absolutely have to. _Ukraine_ is a mid-level power, why should its peers not stand with it? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/243 "2022-03-03T16:10:27Z")
Excuse me, but have you seen my yacht(s) ?? > **[France, Germany Seize 2 Russian Oligarchs' Mega-Yachts](https://www.ibtimes.com/france-germany-seize-2-russian-oligarchs-mega-yachts-owned-putin-allies-3422421)** > > Officials in Germany and France have each seized a mega-yacht owned by reported allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin. > [@](#): > > Two mega-yachts owned by Russian oligarchs, who are reportedly close allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, were seized by authorities in Germany and France this week. > > In Germany, the Dilbar – a $600 million, 512-foot mega-yacht owned by billionaire Alisher Usmanov, was seized by officials on Wednesday as it was being retrofitted in a Hamburg, Germany, shipyard, [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2022/03/02/germans-seize-russian-billionaire-alisher-usmanovs-mega-yacht/?utm_source=ForbesMainTwitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflowForbesMainTwitter&sh=45603d6552dd) reported. Sounds … nice: > The Dilbar is claimed to be the world’s largest motor yacht by gross tonnage by its German shipbuilder Lurssen, weighing in at nearly 16,000 tons. The ship operates with a crew of 96 people and has an 82-foot swimming pool, two helicopter pads, sauna, gym, beauty salon, 12 suites, and can accommodate 24 guests, among other amenities. A _bit_ more on the French seizure: [https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/business/oligarch-superyacht-seized/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/business/oligarch-superyacht-seized/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/244 "2022-03-03T16:19:34Z")
Well if we are going towards morality, then they happily joined the Iraq occupation, so… ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/245 "2022-03-03T16:36:56Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Well if we are going towards morality, then they happily joined the Iraq occupation What an absurd _non sequitur_, given Zelenskyy and his government had zip to do with that. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/246 "2022-03-03T16:46:50Z")
Given that the goal of sanctions is to shock the Russian economy sharply enough to get the Kremlin to change course… And given how many billions a prolonged war is going to cost the Western world, in terms of refugee resettlement, reconstruction, lost trade, and so on… Then, on top of all the other sanctions, **shouldn’t we be boycotting Russian oil?** I understand that Western economies will take a big hit. But if there’s any chance of obstructing this invasion through non-military means, shouldn’t we take it? Would be interested to hear how an oil boycott could possibly be worse than what we’re facing right now. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/247 "2022-03-03T17:00:05Z")
It’s not a boycott, but some traders are concluding that it’s not worth the trouble of trying to trade Russian oil: > **[Russian Oil Not Worth the Trouble, Some Traders Conclude](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/business/energy-environment/russia-oil-price.html)** > > European buyers, shippers, banks and insurers have grown leery of doing business with Russia in recent days, even at deep discounts. Oil is a global commodity, so if the US buys less Russian oil and more Saudi oil, then China will buy more Russian and less Saudi. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/248 "2022-03-03T17:42:33Z")
Russian Paralympic athletes not competing anymore. Other athletes were refusing to compete against them and entire teams were threatening to leave. The IOC blinked, and Russian athletes will not be playing. I hope the next step is to remove Russia in entirety from the Olympic movement. Let it be clear that they are thrown out of ANY international sporting event going forward until they leave Ukraine. And this includes the fig-leaf of letting their athletes compete under a neutral name or flag. Throw them out completely. Article gives more detail: > **[Russia, Belarus athletes banned from Beijing Paralympics in surprise reversal...](https://www.cbc.ca/sports/paralympics/ipc-backtracks-bans-russia-belarus-from-beijing-1.6371077)** > > Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from the Winter Paralympic Games for their countries' roles in the war in Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Thursday in Beijing. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/249 "2022-03-03T17:44:22Z")
That kind of thing, especially if it’s kept up, is going to have a very corrosive effect on public morale. As will all of the backlash they are getting from the international community. I know that several of their influencer types on things like YouTube have already been getting backlash, and I imagine that pressure is also mounting. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/250 "2022-03-03T17:49:38Z")
Well, Russia should have been thrown out after 2014 just for their doping program, so I guess I’ll take this as a small silver lining. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/251 "2022-03-03T17:54:56Z")
[Chelsea’s Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich confirms he will sell team](https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/chelsea-russian-owner-confirms-sell-club-soccer-1.6370152) Give him a dollar and tell him to fuck off back to Moscow. Tell him he can buy the team back for a dollar once Putin has been removed by any means possible. Tell him to use his imagination. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/252 "2022-03-03T18:03:17Z")
There was a message in my Schwab account this morning that they simply aren’t taking buy or sell in any Russian-based securities right now. Doesn’t affect me, but I know people who thought funds that had exposure to Russia were a good aggressive choice for part of their portfolio. They’re not happy. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/253 "2022-03-03T18:12:58Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Excuse me, but have you seen my yacht(s) ?? Maybe I missed it in the articles, but what is the legal justification for seizing the assets of private Russian citizens? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/254 "2022-03-03T18:16:29Z")
There is none. The Russians should sue. Ought to come up for a preliminary hearing in oh, 3 or 4 years. In the meantime, the yacht stays docked. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/255 "2022-03-03T18:37:10Z")
Who cares? Do the right thing and sort out the legalities after the fact. We do far worse to suspected criminals in the US with less justification. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/256 "2022-03-03T18:46:52Z")
> **[Biden says the U.S. will seize Russian oligarchs' yachts, homes and jets. How...](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna18278)** > > A new task force is leading the charge to seize proceeds from "the crimes of Russian oligarchs." The action is tied to a law used as a tool against terrorists and fugitives. FWIW … ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/257 "2022-03-03T18:59:56Z")
Washington could use a stupidly expensive yacht just docked somewhere in the Chesapeake. Think of the tourist dollars. The government can add it to [recreation.gov](http://recreation.gov) for everyone who wants to have sex in an old Russian oligarch’s bed. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/258 "2022-03-03T19:00:28Z")
Don’t worry. I sent him a very supportive email through his holding company. 🙂 Apparently, I cannot embed the picture but I sent him this: [https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/431/312/67e.jpg](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/431/312/67e.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/259 "2022-03-03T19:19:30Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > We do far worse to suspected criminals in the US with less justification. He might be using it to transport drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/260 "2022-03-03T19:26:23Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Oil is a global commodity, so if the US buys less Russian oil and more Saudi oil, then China will buy more Russian and less Saudi. If oil is so fungible, then neither Russia nor the US would be significantly impacted by a ban on Russia oil imports. But that’s not what the White House is saying. They are saying that it would disrupt the world oil supply and raise prices for Americans at the pump. In their eyes that’s sacrificing too much to punish Russia. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/261 "2022-03-03T19:41:48Z")
I’d like to see the quote, because only 3% of US oil imports are from Russia. [Cite](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/3/how-much-oil-does-the-us-import-from-russia). Here’s a useful quote: * * * “The first is with the oil supply, and the short answer is it would not affect the US that much,” Adam Pankratz, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, told Al Jazeera. “If it really goes drastic the US has a strategic petroleum reserve,” he said. However, according to Pankratz, there is also a broader economic effect to consider. “If the US stopped importing Russian oil, that would mean that likely many other countries would also no longer be importing Russian oil, and that would make a very tight oil market already much tighter, and that would drive up the price of oil and that in turn can drive inflation, which in turn can affect the US economy,” Pankratz said. * * * Maybe that was the concern? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007.md?page=14)