UK and EU Sanctions Are Failing: The Reality Behind the Rhetoric

Three years into the West's most ambitious sanctions campaign, a critical question persists: are Russian sanctions working? This episode examines the unintended consequences of EU and UK sanctions on Russia, exploring how blanket targeting and guilt-by-association tactics have ensnared peripheral figures while leaving core power structures intact. From legal overreach in cases like Shvidler v FCDO to the practical failures of enforcement, we analyze whether sanctions function as genuine foreign policy tools or merely political theater. Discover why precision matters more than performance in international sanctions regimes.