U.S. Powers Roll Out the Red Carpet for Allies – We’re Still Pumping Up the Pressure on Russia
As the Ukraine war marches into its fifth week, the U.S. says it’s not going to let the initial shock of sanctions sink into the abyss. Senior officials have been jet‑setting from London to Berlin, from Paris to Brussels, trading a bit of hard‑talk for a whole lot of hope.
Who’s Who, Where They’re Dropping In
- Wally Adeyemo – Deputy Treasury Secretary – from London to Brussels to Paris and finally Berlin.
- Daleep Singh – Deputy National Security Adviser (International Economics) – hopped over to New Delhi to chat with Indian officials.
- Antony Blinken – Secretary of State – had a roundtable with Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al‑Nahyan in Morocco.
Even when the initial impact of those “unexpectedly tough” sanctions on Russian banks and oligarchs started to ebb, the U.S. is already penciling in its next move to isolate President Vladimir Putin.
Russian Currency: The Roller‑Coaster of the Day
Quick recap: within days of slamming key Russian banks out of the Swift network and putting a freeze on the Russia central bank’s 630 billion‑dollar (880 billion‑yuan) war chest, the rouble did a 50‑percent drop. “We’re basically in a financial crisis,” U.S. officials declared.
Fast‑forward a month, and the rouble is largely back to pre‑invasion levels. How? Capital controls, government orders telling export firms to spend foreign currency, and companies gearing up for quarterly tax payments. The Russian stock market is breathing again, even if its tickers are a bit lighter.
Sanctions: The Unpurged Pipeline
While sanctions hit hard in banking, the biggest lifeline—in energy sales to Europe—remains untouched. Russia’s own demand that foreign buyers pay their gas in roubles starting April 1 could actually give the currency a friendly boost, if the European response stays flat‑out “no” to that demand.
That “no” also came from Germany, which called the rouble‑payment demand “blackmail.”
Co‑op with the Europeans: “Let’s Not Let Russia Play Solo”
During a meeting in Brussels, officials talked about aligning sanctions implementation and deepening the transatlantic alliance. The big picture: keep the momentum going amid a sharp drop in global outrage.
What India’s Got to Say
White House economic adviser Daleep Singh told officials that while Washington won’t set any hard “red lines” on oil purchases, it won’t let India bulldoze into a rapid‑fire buying spree. India’s military is still tangled up in Russian tech and hardware, and the country has been walking a fine line between Moscow and the West—pale in the Quad but not cold‑as‑ice.
Why It Matters: The Free‑World’s Long‑Game
One unnamed senior U.S. official summed it up: “We’ve got to keep raising pressure on Russia and boost support for Ukraine.” And that’s the kind of headline we’re looking for in a world where the war could stretch on for months, if not years.
And the Allies: Sitting on the Bench or the Track?
Meanwhile, Russia and China are tightening their alliance, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently meeting Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. The U.S. is on track to keep Europe’s allies fully on board with tackling Putin while nudging those who have stayed on the sidelines.
So, buckle up. The fight is ongoing, the stakes are sky‑high, and the U.S. is promising to keep the pressure on. President Putin, you’re about to feel the heat a bit more.
