If Moscow rejects the ceasefire proposal which is being discussed today in Istanbul, European leaders will urge President Trump to enforce new U.S. sanctions. The EU, for its part, has just unveiled its 17th sanctions package since 2022 which includes visa bans and asset freezes for senior Russian political and business officials.However, a deeper question arises: have Western sanctions developed from mere declarations to effective instruments of power?As a neutral country, Switzerland illustrates the dilemma. Although it has adopted EU sanctions it also applies them selectively, balancing commercial interests and its commitment to neutrality. I think it is a microcosm of Europe’s broader dilemma: principles versus pragmatism.This raises the question: to what extent can Western sanctions be effective instruments of strategic leverage in negotiations with Russia, given internal fragmentation and inconsistent enforcement?

Get full access to Geopolitically | Correct at geopoliticallycorrect.substack.com/subscribe