The European Union has adopted one of the most extensive sanctions regimes in modern history, arguing that economic pressure will reduce Russia’s ability to wage war and influence the Kremlin’s decision-making.
However, after several years of sanctions, one question deserves to be asked: who is really paying the highest price?
For many ordinary Russians, sanctions have meant higher prices, fewer imported goods, reduced travel opportunities, limited access to international financial services and a lower standard of living. The economic burden is felt most by citizens with average incomes, who have little influence over the Kremlin’s foreign policy.
By contrast, Russia’s political leadership and wealthiest individuals often have significantly greater resources to adapt. Many have diversified assets, alternative financial structures or access to domestic networks that soften the impact of international restrictions. Others were already largely disconnected from Western financial systems before the latest rounds of sanctions.
This raises an uncomfortable question for European policymakers: are the sanctions changing the Kremlin’s behaviour, or are they primarily increasing the hardship faced by ordinary Russians?
History shows that broad economic sanctions do not always produce the intended political outcomes. In many cases, governments remain in power while populations bear the economic costs. Supporters of sanctions argue that limiting access to technology, finance and energy revenues weakens Russia’s long-term military and industrial capabilities. Critics counter that the immediate human cost falls disproportionately on citizens rather than political elites.
Regardless of where one stands in this debate, it is legitimate to evaluate whether the current approach is achieving its stated objectives.
Public policy should ultimately be judged by its results—not only by its intentions.
The effectiveness of sanctions should remain open to democratic debate, particularly when millions of civilians are affected by decisions over which they have little or no control.
Final remarks
Europe often presents itself as a defender of human dignity and ordinary citizens. Yet when sanctions mainly impoverish people who have little influence over their government’s decisions, that moral narrative becomes increasingly difficult to sustain.
In the name of many Europeans, I would like to apologise to the Russian people.
Our political leaders have already made life more difficult for many middle- and lower-income Europeans. Now, through ever-expanding sanctions, they risk making ordinary Russians poorer as well.
Too often, it is not political leaders or wealthy elites who bear the greatest burden of these policies, but ordinary citizens trying to provide for their families.
From my perspective, some EU policies are becoming increasingly detached from the values of human dignity and compassion that Europe so often claims to uphold.