Political Scientist: Russia Could Be Hurt Badly

• 13.04.2025, 11:42

What tools the U.S. has to force Putin into peace.

U.S. President Donald Trump has many levers of influence over Russia. He could very well force dictator Vladimir Putin to end the war. But so far, that hasn’t happened.

Political scientist Oleg Saakyan told Channel 24 that Trump has a whole range of tools that could really hurt Russia. However, he has yet to use them.

According to Saakyan, this is not about a collapse in oil prices. Of course, if low prices persist for several quarters, they will eventually drain Russia’s economy. But the real question is whether the U.S. can maintain low prices for an extended period.

There are other options where the U.S. has more leverage. For example, it’s entirely possible to block Russian oil from the market. This refers to actions against Russia’s shadow fleet, including the seizure of ships.

“You can prevent these ships from passing through straits. For instance, the Baltic Sea can be easily blocked. There is only one entrance and exit, which is controlled by Denmark. If pilotage services remain under Danish jurisdiction and are denied to Russia, then not a single ship will pass. Or sanctions could be imposed on third parties cooperating with Russian oil,” Saakyan said.

There are other options as well. The United States could strike at the financial sector of the aggressor state. Sanctions have still not been imposed on Russia’s nuclear industry.

Moreover, Russia continues to purchase various parts for missiles that are manufactured in the West. The enemy has set up bypass routes.

“There are also other possibilities that I won’t discuss publicly. But even the options that are obvious could hurt Russia badly. There are quite literally several vulnerabilities that could be exploited,” Saakyan noted.