Should the world suspend all business with Russia until the Ukraine war ends?
Former U.S. National Security Council official Fiona Hill has called for an urgent global shutdown of business ties with Russia in response to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
In an interview with Politico, Hill — who served as an advisor to three American presidents, including Donald Trump — argued that sanctions alone are insufficient to curb Moscow’s aggression.
“Sanctions are not going to be enough. We need a temporary suspension of business activity with Russia until Moscow ceases hostilities and withdraws its troops,” she said.
Hill compared the move to diplomatic negotiations, noting that peace talks can only begin after a ceasefire. In the same way, she argued, international trade and investment should halt until Russia ends its invasion:
“Right now you’re fueling the invasion of Ukraine. The only way to make an impact is a coordinated global response.”
Western leaders have already imposed a wide range of penalties, including cutting Russian banks off from the SWIFT system, freezing assets, and restricting exports. However, early disagreements among allies — such as Germany initially resisting Britain’s push for tougher sanctions — slowed down immediate action.
The UK has since expanded its measures, also targeting Belarus for facilitating Russia’s military campaign. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss stated:
“We are inflicting economic pain on Putin and those closest to him. Nothing — and no one — is off the table.”
Hill, who testified in Trump’s first impeachment trial, also reflected on her time in the Trump White House. She claimed that Putin had tried to hint at his intentions during conversations with Trump, but the message “wasn’t fully understood.”
For his part, Trump has maintained that Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he were still president. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida, he described Russia’s assault as “appalling” but repeated his view that the Biden administration’s handling of Moscow was “weak.”
With the war grinding on, Hill’s proposal for a complete global business freeze on Russia raises the question: could such drastic measures finally pressure Putin to end the conflict?
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