Dr Connolly identified three principal approaches which had made this possible. Thirdly, and perhaps most worryingly for western investors hoping one day to benefit from an improvement in relations with Russia, and a lifting of sanctions, Dr Connolly has identified, 'a discernible shift to the non-west in trade and capital flows'. However, Dr Connolly suggested, 'You shouldn't see sanctions as a success or a failure.' Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, had -- in testimony to Congress last week -- made a robust defence of sanctions on Russia. When Presidents Trump and Putin met in Helsinki in July, Mr Putin reportedly asked Mr Trump to let Russia question Mr McFaul -- an idea that the former ambassador dismissed as 'lamentable'.

Source: Forbes September 12, 2018 18:00 UTC