In the course of 2014, political tensions between Russia and the West were considerably increasing. As a result, the West implemented sanctions towards Russia, which then provoked Russia to impose...Show moreIn the course of 2014, political tensions between Russia and the West were considerably increasing. As a result, the West implemented sanctions towards Russia, which then provoked Russia to impose counter-measures against the Western pressure, resulting in a downward spiral where both parties keep expanding and extending their measures, until the day of today. With this, the question arises on whether the sanctions imposed by the EU have been successful in fulfilling the intended objectives of their imposed sanction? If not, then what were the reasons? Has Russia, for example, been able to cushion the Western sanctions in an effective way, that the sanctions have not succeeded in tipping the scale of the cost-benefit calculations for Russia to comply with the criteria and objectives set by the EU? Or have there been other reasons, such as a reorientation to China, also known as the “Pivot to the East”? The research of this thesis focuses on the impact and effectiveness of the EU sanctions, Russia's reponse to the sanctions, and which factors have played a role in the overall impact and effectiveness of the EU sanctions.Show less
