In response to the aggressive warfighting against Ukraine and cyber attacks against Western countries, the international community should impose sanctions on the purchase of any software products and IT services of the Russian Federation and Belarus. Such a move would put pressure on the Russian economy and make import substitution impossible in the IT industry, which the Russian Federation needs.
This was stated on his Facebook page by the head of the Centre for Defence Reforms, coordinator of the interdepartmental platform for countering hybrid threats, which operates within the framework of Ukraine-NATO cooperation, Oleksandr Danylyuk.
"One of the effective methods of punishing the Russian Federation for waging an aggressive war against Ukraine, as well as for conducting cyberattacks both against Ukraine and partner countries, should be a ban on the purchase of any software products and other IT services that have even the smallest part of their production on the territory of the Russian Federation or Belarus… There are about 300,000 programmers now working in the Russian Federation. Half of them are thinking about leaving the Russian Federation. The decision to impose sanctions on the Russian IT industry will force almost everyone to leave. This will not only hurt the Russian economy, scientific and technological development, but will also make it impossible to continue import substitution in the IT sector".
Earlier, Olexander Danylyuk also noted that Western sanctions would affect the Russian economy in late April-early May, provoking serious social challenges in Russian society. The hardest hit will be in the electronics and heavy industries.
Politicians of many leading world states also made statements about the need to tighten sanctions against the Russian Federation. Texas Senator Ted Cruz said the US should boycott oil and gas purchases from Russia as these are the only sanctions that can quickly affect Russia's ability to finance a war. Also, Ted Cruz made a statement that air defense systems, fighter jets, and other weapons should be supplied to Ukraine.
Vice Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Paulius Saudargas said that Europe should introduce a complete trade embargo against Russia, a complete ban on exports, imports, and investments. Such a move will provide decision-making to NATO member countries and will have the impact on the Russian economy.
Member of the British Parliament from North Belfast, former Mayor of Belfast (Ireland) John Finucane emphasized that as a part of diplomatic efforts to counter Russian aggression against Ukraine, the strongest sanctions against the Russian Federation should be introduced.
Member of the French Senate, representative of the group "Green" Mélanie Vogel said that the EU should impose a complete embargo on the purchase of energy resources from Russia, including gas, oil, and coal, as well as a ban on cooperation in the nuclear industry.
Deputy of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu noted that a complete trade embargo against the Russian Federation, as well as a ban on the purchase of Russian weapons and a ban on the supply of dual-use goods to Russia, should become an effective tool for responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Wall Street Journal, citing German government officials, reports that Germany is ready to stop buying Russian oil, paving the way for a European Union ban on crude oil imports from Russia.