Economic sanctions and corporate boycotts have not caused the rapid collapse of the Russian economy, as some Western commentators had hoped. Sanctions are, however, pressuring economic lifelines for the Russian people and forcing Moscow to embrace Eurasian ties.
In recent years there has developed a shadowy competition for influence between Russia and France on the African continent, and Moscow seems to be winning.
France and the United Kingdom have ceased support for the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, the deadliest currently in operation. These withdrawals followed a decade of fruitless attempts to end hostilities between the West African nation’s government and its rebel Islamists.
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told Russia President Vladimir Putin that this is not a time for war, with food, fertilizer, and fuel security among the major concerns of the world at present.
