This is an interesting article on how Russia bypasses sanctions by smuggling via other nations. The lesson from this article is that the U.S. and western countries must start applying sanctions to many companies in China, India, and elsewhere who help Russia evade sanctions. Only taking this step will fully create a situation where sanctions will effectively be enforced. The West tried to crush Russia’s economy. Why hasn’t it worked? From an unenforced oil price cap to rogue countries teaming up, Moscow is exploiting the West’s weaknesses. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/24/russia-economy-west-sanctions-00142713
The frozen Russian funds are going to Ukraine. They will be considered reparation payments for the end of the war and repayment of the "loan" will not be required. Russia-Ukraine war live: Britain prepared to loan Ukraine all frozen Russian central bank assets in UK, says minister UK prepared to loan money on basis Russia will be forced to pay reparations to Ukraine at end of war, says foreign secretary David Cameron https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...acron-urges-ukraines-allies-not-to-be-cowards
Not to worry -- they will make the money back when the yacht is sold off and the excess funds sent to Ukraine.
Russia is not winning the war because Moscow has mismanaged its own economy https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/mar...ed-its-own-economy-professors-say/ar-BB1juQR5
Let's take a look at how Russian business owners think their economy is doing. Russia's economy appears resilient, but companies are going bankrupt by the hundreds https://www.businessinsider.com/rus...s-bankruptcy-rise-sharply-amid-sanctions-2024
The GOP U.S. House is also proposing to loan Ukraine money and using the frozen Russian assets as collateral on the loans. Additionally the REPO Act will allow the U.S. to attach assets related to the Russian sovereign assets that have been sanctioned to help pay for Russia’s war crimes -- which will be used to eventually repay these loans. Following the U.K. and EU model. Basically the entire western world is now aligned on seizing the frozen Russian assets. House Republicans consider a loan program for some Ukraine aid https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/co...ans are considering,the plan is not finalized.
Putin needs more money to fund his war. Similar to the Soviet Union, Russia is going broke. Russia Weighs Post-Election Tax Hikes to Fund War in Ukraine https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...x-hikes-to-fund-war-in-ukraine-after-election