Right as I type this, Russia is invading Ukraine. The world is condemning the actions of Russia, and invoking sanctions. I have no idea if these sanctions will be sufficient to stop the invasion, though I doubt it. If the threat of sanctions wouldn't prevent the invasion, the sanctions themselves probably won't cause them to back out now.
I don't know how this will end, and I fear it will be like Germany with the Sudetenland; just the next step of Russia conquering their neighboring nations. It took a World War to stop Germany. I don't know what it will take to stop Russia.
But I do have one suggestion, based on this chart:
This shows Russia's exports- and more than half of it comes from Oil. Almost 2/3rds comes from energy (Oil, Gas, Coal).
The world needs energy to function. Russia knows this- so as long as the rest of the world continues to buy energy from Russia, they know the rest of the world won't inflict the economic pain that would stop them from invading.
So change the equation- our priority should be energy independence. Not just for the US, but for Europe, for India, for Japan, for North and South America- for every free nation on Earth.
When I say 'energy independence', that is different from renewable energy. I am in favor of all hands on deck. Solar and Wind energy have their place, but they can't replace oil.
It also includes spending money on researching fusion power.
It also includes building Thorium reactors
It also includes domestic oil sources- even drilling in Alaska or offshore.
It also includes fracking.
Every MW of energy created by a free nation is one that isn't bought from Russia and giving money to the Oligarchs
It will be expensive. The right will complain about the costs. The left will complain about the need for nuclear and fracking.
If you are serious about stopping Russia, the way to do it now is to bankrupt them.
Because the alternative will cost blood.
