Classic Putin brinkmanship. Andrey Kostin is as close to Putin as one can imagine. His reflections on the US sanctions effect on Russia at the WEF in Davos are indicative of the feelings within Putin's inner circle.
A snap analysis.
One more proof that Kremlin is hugely concerned with the impact of the US sanctions and the List - something it can't control, only try to mitigate.
Russia's new tactis is to make sure that the EU does not follow suit - limit the secondary sanctions effect. Testing EU leaders' nerves with the threat that a war is possible over the strict application of a hard sanctions' versions.
Putin's favorite banker conveys the message - Putin is ready to raise the stakes and shake the EU and NATO to the core if his power is directly challenged.
The man at the top in Kremlin would hardly risk invading a NATO country - henceforth Kostin's threat is a bluff. Invading Ukraine is not an option either.
However what is really on the agenda - Moscow will intensify its hybrid war inside the EC and NATO and try to cause maximum damaga, hoping that the EU leaders - Germany, will blink first. Watch the SDP.
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