Three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine—and 11 years since Russia’s war against Ukraine began—Western businesses and policymakers continue to face a stark and unavoidable choice: either sever the economic lifelines that sustain the Kremlin’s war machine or continue enabling its aggression through inaction and loopholes. Any removal of sanctions that the Trump Administration is considering as part of its rapprochement with the Kremlin is dangerous and counterproductive to efforts to defund and disarm the Russian aggression, the only sustainable way to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine.
B4Ukraine’s most recent report explains how—despite extensive sanctions and diplomatic efforts—Russia has adapted, finding ways to bypass restrictions and sustain its military operations, and what can be done about it.
The reality is clear: as long as money, resources, and critical technology continue to flow into Russia, the war will persist, and the threat to European security will only grow.
The most sustainable and cost-effective path to achieving a “just and lasting peace”—a stated policy goal of both the Trump administration and the European Union—is not through half-measures or prolonged negotiations, but through a decisive effort to defund and disarm Russia’s war machine. Without the financial and technological means to continue its aggression, the Kremlin will be forced to recalculate the viability of its expansionist ambitions.
If the West is serious about stopping the war and preventing it from escalating into a wider European conflict, it must take immediate and unwavering action in three critical areas:
- Curb Russia’s Oil and Gas Export Revenues
Energy exports remain the backbone of Russia’s economy, funding a significant portion of its military expenditures. Despite sanctions, Moscow continues to profit from oil and gas sales through its shadow fleet, no ban on Russian gas (including LNG) and through the so-called “refining” loophole. The West must expand sanctions against the shadow fleet, enforce price cap measures more rigorously, impose a full ban on Russian LNG in Europe, and prohibit the import of refined oil products made from Russian crude.
- Prevent Western Companies from Operating in Russia
Hundreds of Western companies remain active in Russia, providing revenue streams, jobs, and legitimacy to the Kremlin’s economy. Some claim to be “scaling down” operations, but a lack of decisive government action allows companies to continue business as usual. Full withdrawal is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity. The West must restrict government procurement contracts to companies that remain in Russia and impose targeted sanctions on key industries and sectors still operating in the country.
- Stop the Flow of Western Weapons Technology into Russia
Despite export bans, Russia continues to acquire Western-made machine tools, semiconductors, and dual-use components critical to its weapons production. These parts often reach Russia through third-party nations and complex supply chains. To cut off this technological pipeline, the West must strengthen export controls, coordinate sanctions and enforcement, increase scrutiny of intermediary nations, and hold companies accountable for indirect violations. Without access to cutting-edge components, Russia’s military capabilities will significantly degrade over time.
The time for hesitation has long passed. Every day that these economic lifelines remain open, the war drags on, more lives are lost, and the risk of further destabilization in Europe increases. The West has the tools to force change—now it must find the political will to use them.