The EU's Special Envoy for Sanctions, David O'Sullivan, has revealed that the Western sanctions imposed on Russia are having a significant impact on the country's economy. In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, O'Sullivan expressed confidence that the sanctions are working, despite acknowledging that they are not a 'silver bullet' and will always face circumvention attempts. He highlighted the severe economic strain on Russia, with oil revenues plummeting, inflation soaring, and interest rates skyrocketing. However, he also noted that China's 'no-limits' friendship with Moscow has allowed it to provide support to Russia, although not in the form of direct military equipment.
O'Sullivan's team is focused on countering circumvention attempts, particularly in the area of technology sales to foreign distributors who then supply goods to Russia. He emphasized the importance of engaging with countries like India, despite disagreements over foreign policy positions, and highlighted the success of the EU in getting flag states to remove their flags from sanctioned vessels. Despite criticism from the US, O'Sullivan defended the EU's approach, pointing to developments that preceded the signing of the EU-India trade deal, and argued that the EU has been successful in its efforts to counter Russian circumvention attempts.
