Jan Hrnčíř, MP for Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), in an open interview with Gnews.cz strongly questioned the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia. According to him, it turns out that the measures, which were supposed to be a „punishment“, do not actually have a significant impact on the development of the conflict and rather affect the economy of the European Union.
You can watch the first part of our interview with Jan Hrnčíř here:
Hrnčíř pointed out that this is approximately the twentieth package of sanctions, which he describes as„something incredible“. In his words, it looks more like a desperate attempt to come up with a measure that will finally work than a strategy. „We will approve another package at any cost and we hope that this time it will be fatal. But it won't,“ suggests skeptically.
According to the MP, Russia has managed to find new customers for its raw materials and has adapted to the situation. Key resources for the economy and war funding have not disappeared. On the contrary, he recalled that after the first sanctions around 2014-2015, Russia had already started to significantly strengthen its own production and reduce its dependence on imports.
„We actually taught them to make things themselves,“ Hrnčíř says. He added that even if the sanctions end, the return of European companies to the Russian market may not be possible. In many sectors, he said, Russia can make do on its own.
The statement thus reopens a controversial debate: are sanctions really an effective tool, or do they turn against those who impose them?
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