The West imposes swift sanctions on Russia. Can they stop a war?

WESTERN COUNTRIES have moved swiftly to impose a first tranche of economic sanctions on Russia after President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of in eastern Ukraine and . On February 22nd America, Britain and the EU rolled out measures that include restrictions on the sale of Russian debt, the freezing of assets of Russian oligarchs and their children, banks and parliamentarians—and if Russian troops attacked territory controlled by the Ukrainian government. Most striking was Germany’s unexpected decision to suspend the permitting of (NS2), an undersea pipeline intended to carry more gas from Russia to Germany. To some, including some Republican former officials in America, the transatlantic response so far has been sure-footed, not least in the degree of diplomatic co-ordination and the use of intelligence to expose and disrupt Russia’s military plans. The question is whether the sanctions are commensurate with Russia’s attack on the sovereignty of Ukraine, and whether they can deter Mr Putin from sending the 190,000-odd troops he has amassed on Ukraine’s borders to seize more territory.