Americans will be first to rescue Russia from sanctions - diplomat

He expressed this opinion on Espreso TV.

"Frankly speaking, we’re unlikely to see truly hellish sanctions against Russia that could completely destroy its economy. There are several reasons for this. First, the Americans would be the first to rush in to save the Russians from collapse - just like in 1991. 

Second, our European partners remain dependent on Russian energy. They buy it in various ways - both legitimate and not. For example, near Greece and Malta, Russian oil is transferred to more 'legitimate' tankers, and then Europeans gladly purchase it. A full rejection of Russian energy would mean higher consumer prices and more pressure on their economies," Khara explained.

The diplomat emphasized that closing European ports to Russian ships could significantly impact Russia’s economy - and not even China and India combined could replace the European market.

"Therefore, we shouldn’t expect any large-scale, devastating sanctions against Russia. However, some steps will be taken. For example, the UK imposed sanctions on 100 of Russia’s shadow fleet vessels - that’s a good move. Of course, it would be even better if European countries banned entry to any ship flying the Russian flag or having docked in Russian ports. That would be a serious blow, and it’s unlikely India or China could compensate for the loss of the European market," he added.

• The UK will impose sanctions on 100 oil tankers that are a key part of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” These vessels have transported cargo worth over $24 billion since the beginning of 2024.