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Ryan Spadia
Mr. Campopiano
Government 1
19 October 2015
Russian Embargo: to Stop Russian Aggression Against Ukraine
Russia and the United States are some of the two largest trade and economic countries in
the world; both are important to the worlds economic and social growth. However Russia uses
its power to influence other countries in making decisions which benefit Russia. After the Soviet
Union fell, Russia became the Big Brother to all the new surrounding countries including
Ukraine. Ukraine was in the midst of joining the EU bank to help its economy but Russia used its
power and Ukraine sided with Russia instead. Ukraine fell into a depression and the capital city
of Kiev was up in riots; the President was kicked out of office and Russia invaded the Crimean
Peninsula. When Russia invaded Crimea it was invading Ukraine, a sovereign, peaceful state.
President Obama wrote two executive orders in March of 2014, to Russia who did not listen and
have sent in more military force to fight against the Ukrainian EU supporters. The United States
needs to implement a trade embargo against Russia immediately because: It will force Russia to
withdraw troops from Ukraine,cripple the Russian economy, and force Russia to follow the
United States rules of foreign policy.
A trade embargo against Russia would make it financially impractical for Russia to keep
its military force in Ukraine.Russia has a long history of using its power to force other countries
into actions beneficial for Russia (Boterbloem). Russia used its power and forced Ukraine to
side with them instead of the EU Bank; after the Ukrainian government fell Russia invaded
Crimea Using its military power to scare the riots in Kiev. Currently there are almost 9,000

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Russian Federation Personnel are believed to be based inside Ukraine (Natan). A military
operation cost an immense amount of money. The trade embargo plus the falling price of their
national currency will make a military operation nearly impossible.
The Ruble has fallen nearly 40 percent due to falling oil prices; a trade embargo from the
United States would hurt the Russian economy even more. The Russian economy is primarily
funded by trading natural resources to other European countries and the United States. Russia
exports the most material to the Netherlands. Russia is the ninth largest exporter in the world
and eighteenth largest importer (MIT). Russia exports nearly 179 Billion Dollars in Petroleum
to the world and 18.7 Billion dollars go to the US. The US only exports 12.2 Million dollars to
Russia (Census). With falling oil prices and a loss in trade money the Russian economy would
fall deeper into depression and not be able to support its military in Ukraine.
The sanctions implemented against Russia by President Obama arent enough to stop
Russian troops in Ukraine; a trade embargo will make it so Russia will have to follow US policy.
A trade embargo against Russia will stay until all troops are out of Ukraine; other organizations
are pushing Russias hand as well. NATO is responding to Russias illegal occupation of
Ukrainian territory with the largest reinforcement of collective defense since the end of the Cold
War (Garamone). NATO along with the United States can force Russia to retreat. The United
States is preparing to punish Russia by starving off its access to western credit if President Putin
does not meet demands for peace in Ukraine (Fenton). President Obama plus the EU have put
sanctions on Russian leaders and banks to withdraw troops from Ukraine. As of now none of
these have worked and the military presence in Ukraine is only getting larger. A trade embargo
against Russia will be so drastic it will force Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine quickly
which the sanctions are not doing.

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The trade embargo may affect Russia but it could also affect the United States. Russia
has enough money to buffer a 2-3 year fiscal storm ( Europa) This money could affect the
embargo and cause the US more money. However the United States economy will be fine
because the US is the largest exporter and importer in the world. Being the largest trader in the
world allows for wiggle room with money, something Russia does not have. The United States
Spent 1.2 Billion Dollars annually in the Cuban Embargo (State.Gov). The Russian Embargo
could cost more to the US and put us into deeper debt. The United States will not go into debt
because other countries will join in the embargo cutting the costs.
The Russian Invasion of Ukraine was a shock to the entire world and World War Three
was a serious possibility. Luckily no war to that kaliber has occurred because of President
Obamas and the EU sanctions against Russia. However these sanctions are not enough to get the
Russian troops out of Ukraine a trade embargo is needed. The trade embargo will Cripple the
Russian economy, force Russia to withdraw troops out of Ukraine, and force Russia to follow US
foreign policy.

Works Cited
1. "Russia." OEC - Russia. MIT, n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2015.
2. Foreign Trade - US Trade Goods With Russia. United States Census Bureau. Web.
18 October 2015.
3. Nathan, Adam. "Ukraine Fears "Big War"" The Independent. Independent Digital
News and Media, 16 Aug. 2015. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.

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4. Garamone, Jim. "NATO Responding to Russia." U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.
5. Boterbloem, Kees. A History of Russia and Its Empire: From Mikhail Romanov to
Vladimir Putin. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
6. U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
7. EUROPA. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.