Crimea and Punishment? A French view of sanctions

Following Moscow’s takeover of Crimea, the West imposed a series of sanctions measures targeting a new generation of oligarchs, most of them former KGB agents and friends of Putin. How far does the West understand the effect of sanctions on Putin’s deal with the Russian people? What is Paris’ view of sanctions, how are French business interests affected and how influential is the Russian business lobby in France?

Christine Ockrent is a columnist and writer. Her most recent book is ‘Les Oligarques’ (October 2014). She produces and anchors a weekly radio program on foreign affairs ‘Affaires Etrangères’ on France Culture public radio. Ms Ockrent is a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Kadri Liik is Senior Policy Fellow at ECFR and editor of ‘Russia’s Pivot to Eurasia’.