'..Blocking the Kremlin’s key source of income by divesting Europe from Russian oil and gas could prove painful enough for leaders to move away from aggression in the long-term.'<blockquote>'Personal perceptions are extremely influential in decision-making, with suspicion and hostility towards the West often the norm. Putin, for example, appears to genuinely believe that the United States has tried to overthrow his regime. Former U.S. ambassador Michael McFaul ascribes this to Putin’s KGB past and lack of understanding of the American political system, which leads him to “grossly exaggerate the role of the CIA in the making of our foreign policy.’’ This paranoia should deeply worry U.S. policymakers, as these personalities and their delusional perceptions shape Russia’s policy responses.
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..Only one action can produce these results: cutting Russia’s oil and gas revenues in the long-term. The regime relies heavily on state income from these resources, which allows them to buy support from elites and retain control of media, keeping them in power. Cutting the flow of riches to the Kremlin – currently at least 50 percent of government revenues – would make them think twice on foreign policy.
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..Blocking the Kremlin’s key source of income by divesting Europe from Russian oil and gas could prove painful enough for leaders to move away from aggression in the long-term. We cannot reduce the pernicious impact of personality on Russian foreign policy, but perhaps, slowly, we can reshape the incentives of Putin and his inner circle.'
- Emma Ashford,
Piecemeal Sanctions Won't Deter Russia, September 24, 2014</blockquote>
Context<blockquote>
Russia - '..fundamental constitutional reform..' - '..the Long Game..''..the collapse of the USSR was the luckiest event in the past half-century..''..Allowing U.S. Crude Oil Exports.' - '..Oil Export Policy Is Stuck in the '70s'</blockquote>