Russia's War Against Ukraine
Vladimir Kara-Murza: Putin and cronies only fear targeted sanctions
Russia's President Vladimir Putin reacts during his meeting with Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in Putin's Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, on March 5, 2014. Western and Russian leaders headed today into a day of diplomatic wrangling over the Ukraine crisis, a day after US President Barack Obama warned Moscow was not \"fooling anybody\" over its role in Crimea. AFP PHOTO/ POOL/ YURI KADOBNOV
One can think of a few possible ways to change Vladimir Putin’s mind on the occupation of Ukraine. He may listen to public opinion: 73 percent of Russians, even according to the state-run VTsIOM polling agency, oppose intervention in Ukraine. He may be persuaded by Russian opposition leaders, who condemned the war as “madness of a deranged KGB officer” and a “reckless policy” that “goes against the interests of our country.” He may be swayed by Western moves to suspend military cooperation and threats by Western leaders to boycott the G8 summit in Sochi.
