Western Companies’ Role in Facilitating Russia’s War Machine

This chapter looks at the role European companies play in circumventing sanctions imposed on Russia by the West following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As a case study that may be symptomatic of larger issues around the enforcement of sanctions, the chapter explores the role European tankers, shipping, and insurance companies play in facilitating Moscow’s continued export of its crude oil—an important source of revenue that helps Moscow fund its war against Ukraine. Based on this snapshot analysis, the chapter identifies key issues affecting the implementation and effectiveness of the sanctions policy. The conclusion considers what the EU may do to improve its sanctions monitoring and enforcement capabilities to prospectively curb Russian revenues more significantly and force the Kremlin to reconsider its stance on waging a long-term war against Ukraine—along with the constraints hindering just this.