Blinken: 'Irreversible’ withdrawal necessary to lift sanctions on Russia

3.16.22
The Russian government must carry out an "irreversible" withdrawal from its invasion of Ukraine before U.S. sanctions will be lifted, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NPR in an interview published Wednesday morning. U.S. sanctions against Russia are "not designed to be permanent" and could "go away" Blinken said, should Russia change its behavior. But a mere withdrawal of Russian forces would not be enough; instead, Blinken said the U.S. would insist that a Russian pullback be, “in effect, irreversible,” so "this can't happen again, that Russia won't pick up and do exactly what it's doing in a year or two years or three years."On Tuesday, the Department of the Treasury announced new sanctions on members of the Russian Ministry of Defense as well as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The U.S. has also sanctioned Russian banks, oligarchs and their families. Last week, President Joe Biden announced a complete ban on imports of Russian oil, gas and energy.

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Rogue Valley said:

From what I understand, Zelenskyy is demanding a Russian withdrawal from all of Ukraine, including Crimea and the Luhansk/Donetsk statelets in eastern Ukraine.

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NWRatCon said:

Personally, I think that is the only legitimate resolution to the conflict. The question is, how is that to be accomplished?

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CaughtInThe said:

I still think this is going to be a decades long battle (militarily, financially and covertly).

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NWRatCon said:

I'm not so sure. Putin has gotten himself in a pickle. The economy is crashing, the people are getting restive (a minority, to be sure, but revolutions have succeeded with less), the bulk of its land forces are bogged down in foreign territory. Ukraine, although devastated, is the darling of Europe (as it should be) and will likely get huge support - and maybe even Polish MiGs - to fight. The Russian forces are demoralized, and the International Court of Justice has said "Nyet" to the invasion.

I think this may be Putin's Waterloo. Imagine this: a palace coup, a genuine move toward democracy, and a mea culpa from the incoming regime.... Russia could be saved by its own people.

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CaughtInThe said:

If Putin fails I shudder to think what he'll do next.

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CaughtInThe said:

If Putin fails I shudder to think what he'll do next.

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Nomad4Ever said:

I am too. If Ukraine is actually doing as well as it seems there is a possibility Russia is completely embarrassed by Ukraine. Possibly even militarily defeating and pushed out to their borders. If that were to happen (or start to happen) it would be the shattering of the image of Putin as a strongman leader. Could Putin EVER agree to terms where Ukraine cedes no ground and no concessions to Russia? I don't know.

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Rogue Valley said:

Blinken: 'Irreversible’ withdrawal necessary to lift sanctions on Russia

From what I understand, Zelenskyy is demanding a Russian withdrawal from all of Ukraine, including Crimea and the Luhansk/Donetsk statelets in eastern Ukraine.

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