ArmInfo.Negative effect of new US sanctions is potentially able to push US and Russia to even greater escalation with truly unpredictable consequences, according to Maxim Suchkov, an expert on Russian Council on Foreign Affairs and Valdai Club, editor of Al-Monitor (USA).
"In this light, American sanctions and their Russian response are a great tragedy for both Russia and US. I think that there will definitely be more losers in this confrontation than winners. Yes, sanctions, of course, have a painful impact on Russia. , while their stated goal is to change Russia's behavior, and not to cause economic harm. "To change the behavior under Washington's pressure, Moscow, in my opinion, will not be exact in the near future," the expert said.
At the same time, Suchkov notes that there are not so many countermeasures in the Russian arsenal that are really painful for the US, which is recognized by the leadership of the Kremlin. "And the most steep anti- American measures: the curtailment of cooperation in outer space, the restrictions on the work of companies from the United States, the import substitution of American products, are capable of damaging Russia itself no less than the United States," the expert said.
"Of course, there are reasons to believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is still trying to abstain from such measures, but the level of tension in the conflict already presupposes an inertial control over the behavior of its participants, which is of particular concern for his prospects," Suchkov said.
To recall, in late July, US Senate passed a bill on new sanctions against Russia, Iran and DPRK. Earlier, the sanction package was adopted by the lower house of the US Congress. From the entry into force of the law, it is separated only by the signature of President Donald Trump. On August 1, US Vice President Michael Pence told reporters that President Donald Trump "will sign a bill to strengthen US sanctions against Russia very soon.