Latvian Report: Western Sanctions Have Added $130 Billion to Russia's Costs
A report by Latvia's Constitution Protection Bureau shows Western sanctions have cost Russia an extra $130 billion to acquire sanctioned goods. While not an immediate fix, sanctions effectively weaken Russia's long-term military and economic capabilities.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 22:52
- 🔍 Collected: April 16, 2026 at 23:02 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 03:37 (52h 35m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Yu Yao-ju, Vilnius, 16th) A recent report issued by the Constitution Protection Bureau, Latvia's national security agency, pointed out that Western sanctions against Russia have caused significant losses to its economy, costing Russia an additional estimated $130 billion. In the long run, this helps weaken its capacity for external threats.
Latvian Public Media (LSM) recently reported that a newly released study by the Latvian Constitution Protection Bureau noted that while sanctions are insufficient in the short term to change Russia's foreign policy and military actions in Ukraine, in the long term, sanctions are one of the important tools to restrict Russia's capabilities, and there is still room to expand these measures.
Citing intelligence based on Russian estimates, the report noted that since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the need to obtain sanctioned Western goods through indirect channels has resulted in an additional cost of about $130 billion (approximately NT$4 trillion), averaging about $32.5 billion (approximately NT$1 trillion) annually.
The report also pointed out that according to Russian forecasts, by 2030, multiple factors including Western sanctions could reduce Russia's foreign trade by about $175.5 billion (approximately NT$5.5 trillion), accounting for about 5% of its current total trade volume. Among these, Western restrictions have the greatest impact, estimated at $136 billion (approximately NT$4.3 trillion), covering sanctions on Russian enterprises, secondary sanctions on its trading partners, trade embargoes, and US tariffs.
The Latvian Constitution Protection Bureau also cited assessments from other Russian institutions, pointing out that if the West further increases pressure, Russia's energy industry could lose about $216.5 billion (approximately NT$6.8 trillion) over the next five years. The Bureau also noted that Russia's own figures are likely lower than the actual losses.
The report indicated that Russia is seeking to loosen sanctions through various channels, particularly in diplomatic negotiations involving the war in Ukraine. The Latvian Constitution Protection Bureau believes that once sanctions are lifted, it will increase the security threat Russia poses to Ukraine, Europe, and the world. Even a partial relaxation could provide extra resources for its military restructuring and foreign influence operations.
The report concluded that while sanctions alone cannot change Russia's policy direction or force it to stop the war against Ukraine, they have effectively squeezed its financial capacity to sustain the war or launch military restructuring needed for new conflicts. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150416
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(CNA Reporter Yu Yao-ju, Vilnius, 16th) A recent report issued by the Constitution Protection Bureau, Latvia's national security agency, pointed out that Western sanctions against Russia have caused significant losses to its economy, costing Russia an additional estimated $130 billion. In the long run, this helps weaken its capacity for external threats.
Latvian Public Media (LSM) recently reported that a newly released study by the Latvian Constitution Protection Bureau noted that while sanctions are insufficient in the short term to change Russia's foreign policy and military actions in Ukraine, in the long term, sanctions are one of the important tools to restrict Russia's capabilities, and there is still room to expand these measures.
Citing intelligence based on Russian estimates, the report noted that since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the need to obtain sanctioned Western goods through indirect channels has resulted in an additional cost of about $130 billion (approximately NT$4 trillion), averaging about $32.5 billion (approximately NT$1 trillion) annually.
The report also pointed out that according to Russian forecasts, by 2030, multiple factors including Western sanctions could reduce Russia's foreign trade by about $175.5 billion (approximately NT$5.5 trillion), accounting for about 5% of its current total trade volume. Among these, Western restrictions have the greatest impact, estimated at $136 billion (approximately NT$4.3 trillion), covering sanctions on Russian enterprises, secondary sanctions on its trading partners, trade embargoes, and US tariffs.
The Latvian Constitution Protection Bureau also cited assessments from other Russian institutions, pointing out that if the West further increases pressure, Russia's energy industry could lose about $216.5 billion (approximately NT$6.8 trillion) over the next five years. The Bureau also noted that Russia's own figures are likely lower than the actual losses.
The report indicated that Russia is seeking to loosen sanctions through various channels, particularly in diplomatic negotiations involving the war in Ukraine. The Latvian Constitution Protection Bureau believes that once sanctions are lifted, it will increase the security threat Russia poses to Ukraine, Europe, and the world. Even a partial relaxation could provide extra resources for its military restructuring and foreign influence operations.
The report concluded that while sanctions alone cannot change Russia's policy direction or force it to stop the war against Ukraine, they have effectively squeezed its financial capacity to sustain the war or launch military restructuring needed for new conflicts. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150416
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Texts, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.