White House press secretary Jen Psaki had also said the possibility of the US sanctioning Russian oil exports was “still on the table” earlier Wednesday.
Taking such a step would be an extraordinary measure that could have an intense effect on domestic gas prices, however, and Psaki made clear that the White House’s top priority is to minimize the impact at home.
“What (Biden) does not want to do is topple the global oil markets or the global marketplace or impact the American people more with higher energy and gas prices,” Psaki told CNN’s John Berman on “New Day.”
“That’s something we heavily weigh. It’s still on the table. It’s not off the table. But again, that’s how the President looks at this as we’re announcing and pursuing additional steps,” she added.
Your average private Russian citizen isn’t having his assets seized. Russian billionaires who have influence in government are having their assets seized. Given that they’re all robber barons who have mostly come by their wealth through rampant corruption in the first place, I won’t be shedding any tears over their losses.
Could Turkey seal off the Bosporus indefinitely to all Russian maritime traffic going in and out, and would that be legal/cause for war? That might do a major number on Russia’s trade in the south.
May not hold up though as long as Russia is illegally occupying parts of Ukraine. If you’re a rogue state warring on other, those treaties don’t have to apply.
I would be in favor of this - and if Russia does not like it, they can take it to an international court, who will hear the case as soon as their military leaves Ukraine.
Agreed. Russia really can’t complain about anything the civilized world decides to do them while they are committing a totally unjustified war of aggression. Imagine the allies not blocking Japanese maritime trade after Pearl Harbor.
Then stop all commercial traffic because you have had a tip that the ships contain drugs/terrorists/weapons/slave workers. Search them carefully. Very carefully. Could take a long time.
I don’t think that would fool anybody, you can’t do rule - lawyering un this kindnof situation, if Turkey stops all Russian commerce into the Black Sea then the Russians would take it as an act of war no matter the excuses.
I guess Turkey could just start stopping some russian ships and not all, always birdering into actually closing the straits without never doing it completely, but sooner or later the balloon would go up.