Although they deny, deny, deny that they’ve felt much of an effect — and indeed they have found work-arounds to some of them — it’s no secret that Russia is indeed hurting, both economically and politically, from the sanctions imposed on them by the United States and numerous other Western countries since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. And they’re not just European nations.

Among the countries to have taken steps against some of Russia’s “bad actors” over the past two and a half years are Australia — which alone has sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian individuals and companies — and its neighbor, New Zealand.

It’s also well-known that Vladimir Putin, despite all his protestations to the contrary, is royally pissed.

So, like any spoiled brat, he’s been spending a good bit of time — the part that’s not devoted to screwing with the U.S. election process — trying to get even. And this week he decided to pick on the two South Pacific nations by banning 131 Australians and nine New Zealanders from entering Russia.

Oh, no! How ever will they survive such punishment?!!

The list of Australians includes officials of the defense industry, broadcast journalists and public figures, who now stand accused by Russia of promoting an “anti-Russian agenda.” The same holds true for the nine New Zealand Defense Ministry officials, including three deputy ministers. [RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, October 29, 2024.]

Other than putting a crimp in any discussions that may have been taking place between the two defense ministries, I’m finding it difficult to imagine this action alone having much of a negative impact on Australia’s or New Zealand’s day-to-day affairs.

But, as I find myself saying much too often these days, we simply have to wait and see what happens next.

I’m sure we’ll be hearing something from the Kremlin’s ubiquitous spokesman, good old Dmitry Peskov, before long.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/30/24